The Adelaide Oval witnessed a dominant performance from Australia as they crushed the West Indies by 10 wickets to claim a convincing victory in the first Test of the two-match series. Australia‘s skipper Pat Cummins’ men put on a clinical display across all departments, leaving the West Indies with little to no chance of a comeback.
Day 1: Debutant Shamar Joseph shines amidst the Australian Dominance
On the opening day of the Adelaide Test, Australia’s pacers, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, dominated the West Indies as they picked up four wickets each. Opting to bowl first in overcast conditions, Cummins and Hazlewood orchestrated a dramatic collapse, reducing West Indies to 133/9. Debutant Shamar Joseph along with Kemar Roach, however, showcased resilience with a gutsy 55-run final-wicket stand, frustrating the hosts.
In reply, West Indies’ debutant bowler Shamar Joseph made an immediate impact, dismissing Australia’s new opener, Steve Smith, for a modest score of 12. Joseph continued to trouble the home team, bouncing out Marnus Labuschagne for just 10. Despite an early scare with opener Usman Khawaja getting a reprieve, Australia ended the day at 59/2, with Khawaja and Cam Green steering through the final half-hour. Shamar Joseph’s impressive all-round display added a touch of excitement, but Australia remained in control with a deficit of only 129 runs.
Day 2: Travis Head’s Heroics Extend Australia’s Lead
Travis Head’s dynamic century propelled the Aussies to a formidable lead despite Shamar Joseph’s five-wicket haul on debut. Head’s counterattacking innings saw him score 119, guiding Australia to 283 in response to West Indies’ 188. Shamar Joseph continued to impress, taking five wickets for the visitors. However, Josh Hazlewood’s exceptional opening spell wreaked havoc on West Indies, reducing them to 73/6 by stumps, trailing by 22.
Hazlewood’s figures of 4-11 in six overs showcased his dominance, while Kirk McKenzie’s resilience and a brief partnership with Joshua Da Silva kept West Indies hopeful. Yet, Nathan Lyon’s late breakthrough and a successful DRS review left West Indies trailing by 22, with four wickets remaining to make Australia bat again. The match is finely poised for an intriguing Day 3, with the hosts in the driver’s seat but West Indies showing glimpses of resilience.
Day 3: Australia Clinches Convincing Victory
On the third morning, Mitchell Starc led the bowling attack as they efficiently wrapped up the West Indies tail, requiring just over an hour to finish the job. A resilient final-wicket stand from the tourists added a touch of drama, forcing Australia to bat again with a modest target of 26. Starting the day at 73/6 in their second innings, West Indies faced a formidable challenge against Australia’s relentless bowling. Mitchell Starc’s early spell set the tone, claiming quick wickets with a well-directed bouncer that dismissed overnight batter Joshua Da Silva.
Alzarri Joseph put up a commendable resistance, but Starc induced an edge for a routine catch. Josh Hazlewood completed his fifer by dismantling Gudakesh Motie’s off-stump.Despite West Indies being one wicket away from equalizing the first innings lead, Australia swiftly wrapped up proceedings. Shamar Joseph, the debutant, continued his positive contributions with a splendid cover drive, showcasing a brief moment of resistance. However, Lyon accounted for his wicket for the second time in the match.
The hosts efficiently chased down the target without losing any wickets, although Shamar Joseph’s well-directed bouncer forced Usman Khawaja to retire hurt when the Aussies needed just 1 run. With this commanding win, Australia secures an unassailable 1-0 lead and retains the Frank Worrell Trophy. The second and final test is scheduled to commence on January 25 at the Gabba, Brisbane.