West Indies v Australia, second Test day two live: Konstas, Khawaja in fresh top-order disaster
Things were going so well for Australia - but a late West Indian fightback, coupled with another embarrassing top-order collapse, have put the tourists firmly on the back foot.
Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja had a long time to think about it.
For almost 11 interminable overs, Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillip blunted the most prolific bowling quartet in Test history - and their sidekicks - until Travis Head finally ended a dreary 16-run vigil that was the antithesis of the earlier sloggings from the non-brothers Joseph: Shamar and Alzarri.
There had already been one false start when Phillip successfully reviewed an lbw call off the bowling of Nathan Lyon.
Opening the batting in Test cricket is as much a mental challenge as it is a technical one. What would have been going through Konstas’ mind as the Windies tail prolonged his agonising wait? As groundstaff circled the wagons waiting for a downpour that never really arrived, other than some faint mist.
The last time Konstas had entered the fray in a Test match for the proverbial tricky little patch before stumps, he had become embroiled in a stand-off with the great Jasprit Bumrah, before copping the brunt of Indian taunts after Khawaja fell off the final ball of the day.
The 19-year-old had started the day in the nets out the back of the National Cricket Stadium, in the shadow of the glorious surrounding hills.
He received throwdown after throwdown from batting coach Michael Di Venuto, who at one stage came down the wicket for an extended chat. Marnus Labuschagne was in the adjoining net, getting a workover from Scott Boland.
Konstas was seeing them well. From the final toss he faced from Di Venuto, the kid skipped down the wicket and middled one that soared off into the St George’s skyline. He pumped his fists as he strode out to change into his creams for the day’s play. He was ready.
But it is one thing to do it first thing in the morning when no one is watching, and the stakes are low. Quite another when you are effectively on national trial, have been out in the field all day, and the opposition has just left you hanging for the best part of an hour.
He had smothered the first delivery from Seales. The next two he watched and left. Then it came. A bit shorter and seemingly wide enough to be punished for a nerve settler. But he failed to connect, the ball ricocheting off the inside edge and onto the stumps. Back went the head. The referendum would continue.
Down the other end was a man twice his age. A man whose worthiness for the role of Australian Test opener is also in significant doubt.
That double century in Sri Lanka feels a long time ago.
The queries over Khawaja’s capacity against world-class pace will only intensify after this innings.
Yet again he was caught deep in his crease, appearing helpless against a ball moving back sharply into him. Up went the finger.
Khawaja reviewed, but this was the last salvage of a desperate man. Deep down he must have known. Three red lights, the last one to signify a projection smashing into the middle of middle.
An absolute plumb ball goes up for review! OUT!!#WIvAUS#FullAhEnergypic.twitter.com/ip1wRDqvPl
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 4, 2025
Nighwatchman Nathan Lyon, who had already taken three wickets on a pitch not supposed to aid spin, came marching out to the wicket, greeting Cameron Green. The symbolism was abundant. Once more it was a bowler called upon to safeguard against a fragile top order.
If Konstas and Khawaja thought that last partnership gave them too much thinking time, imagine how the next week will be before a pink-ball Test at Sabina Park. Or the more than four months before the Ashes, an awful lot of thinking time for selectors.
RE-LIVE THE ACTION FROM DAY TWO IN OUR BLOG BELOW
Originally published as West Indies v Australia, second Test day two live: Konstas, Khawaja in fresh top-order disaster
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