West Indies boast about success against Usman Khawaja weakness in ominous Ashes warning

The spotlight on his opening partner is intensifying, but Usman Khawaja is also facing interrogations by West Indies fast bowlers – with a perceived weakness brutally exposed.

West Indies captain Roston Chase confirmed his side was seeking to exploit a perceived weakness in Usman Khawaja’s game after the veteran fell in almost identical fashion for the third consecutive innings.

The spotlight on Australia’s opening pair of Khawaja and his callow partner Sam Konstas will only intensify after the pair both fell cheaply late on day two of the second Test in Grenada to leave the match in the balance.

Cameron Green (six not out) and nightwatchman Nathan Lyon (two not out) survived to take the Aussies to 2-12 in their second innings at stumps, leading by 45.

DAY TWO REPORT: Konstas’ nightmare continues in fresh collapse

Lyon copped a blow to his hand from an Alzarri Joseph delivery in the final over of the day, receiving attention from the team physio before absorbing one more ball at which point stumps was called.

The tourists had taken a 33-run first innings lead after the Windies tail wagged to take the home side from 7-174 to all out 253.

That presented an opening, and a six-over block late in the day proved fruitful for the Windies as Jayden Seales removed Konstas chopping onto his wicket for a duck, and Khawaja lbw to a delivery nipping back from around the wicket for two.

Sam Konstas bowled in second innings

The latter was forlornly reviewed, with technology showing the ball would have collided with the middle of middle stump.

Khawaja insisted before the series that his record suggested he did not have an issue against pace, but 80 runs across four innings thus far in the series – the bulk of which came in a streaky 47 in the first innings at Kensington Oval – has done little to alter that narrative.

In particular, the left-hander’s last three dismissals, all lbw to right-arm pace coming from around the wicket, suggest a concerning pattern for a player who will turn 39 during the upcoming Ashes.

An absolute plumb ball goes up for review! OUT!!#WIvAUS#FullAhEnergypic.twitter.com/ip1wRDqvPl

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 4, 2025

Asked after play whether the Windies had identified a flaw in Khawaja’s game, Chase effectively said as much.

“We obviously had our plans for each and every batsman, and I guess that’s the area we’re trying to exploit, and it’s been working for us so far,” Chase said.

Konstas, recalled for the first Test of this series, has meanwhile scored just 33 runs across four innings, with his readiness for international cricket very much in question.

Aussie paceman Josh Hazlewood acknowledged that batting so late in the day against the new ball had been a very tough ask for the openers.

“I think obviously, never been in the position, but it must be the hardest time to bat,” Hazlewood said.

Usman Khawaja plays all around a ball before being dismissed LBW. Picture: AP

“I know they’re just fielding out there, they’re not bowling, but it was very taxing out there in that heat, bit heavy legged, and then you’ve obviously got to go straight out and face potentially, what is the hardest time to bat.

“So, yeah, it’s unfortunate we lost two, but good signs from Greeny there and Gaz (Lyon) to get through. And as long as we get through that new ball, potentially tomorrow for the first hour, I think batting is going to be a little bit easier.”

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING: DRONE DEFEATS DOG IN BIZARRE DELAY

CAPS LOCK

Pat Cummins’ missing baggy green has been replaced. He has sourced a second new Albion cap to replace his fraying original. The Aussie skipper’s replacement cap disappeared somewhere between the pre-series photo shoot and the toss of the first Test in Bridgetown.

DOG GONE

There was an uninvited interloper on the arena early in the second session. But this wasn’t an Australia who had indulged too much in the local beverages. Rather it was a stray dog, who initially settled deep in the off-side, before moving around to the on-side. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood sought to shoo the canine away, but it was the drone camera overhead that led the dog to leave the field, and eventually the stadium, no thanks to the security or ground staff.

Dog interrupts day two of the West Indies-Australia second Test

WHAT A TAKE

Australia took two return catches to begin the day in Grenada. Josh Hazlewood removed Kraigg Brathwaite for a duck in the second over, but it was Cummins’ diving one-handed effort to remove Keacy Carty that stole the show, with the skipper forcing Carty to edge onto his pad before snaffling the pop-up low to the ground.

Cummins takes a STUNNING caught-and-bowled!! 😱

Pat Cummins plucks a ridiculous one-handed caught-and-bowled to remove Keacy Carty on Day 2 of the second #Test! 🔥 🔥

Catch every ball of Australia’s tour of the West Indies live on ESPN on #disneyplusau / #disneyplusnz! 📺 📺… pic.twitter.com/4zpspktJMD

— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) July 4, 2025

CORDON HOUSE

Marnus Labuschagne will not be denied. The dumped Aussie batter had a good hitout in the nets before play on Friday and then re-emerged in the slip cordon as Australia’s quicks had breathers after bowling during the first session. It was an otherwise new-look cordon for the tourists, with Sam Konstas filling in as Steve Smith was stationed at mid-off as he recuperates from his finger injury.

WITH OR WITHOUT YOU

Having advanced to 4-169 with Brandon King and Shai Hope looking settled, the Windies lost 2-0. Firstly it was Cummins, who as he so often does ended a key partnership by bowling Hope through the gate after it jagged back. The skipper then went off the field for some repairs, in which time King departed for 75, gloving one from Nathan Lyon down the leg-side to a decision reviewed successfully by acting skipper Steve Smith, on the urging of Cameron Green at mid-wicket.

Originally published as West Indies boast about success against Usman Khawaja weakness in ominous Ashes warning