Fiji have midfield missile aimed at Wallabies' Suaalii
But the memory of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii sticks in his mind as Byrne plots a way to shut down the Wallabies superstar in Sunday's Test in Newcastle.
He recalled meeting Suaalii when he was an assistant to Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, with the schoolboy making an immediate impression on the pair.
"I remember when 'Cheik' and I first met him when I was at the Wallabies and a young schoolboy came in, before he signed with rugby league, and we knew then that he was a tremendous athlete," Byrne said of the NRL recruit, who will line up for his fourth Test.
"I think he offers a dimension to the game that not many athletes can .... it's a bit like Izzy (Israel Folau) in his day as well, that aerial skill set as well as being really well balanced across the ground.
"Like a lot of international players we come up against, we've got to keep our eye on him, but I think as a player he just offers another sort of dimension, being that aerial skill set that we'll have to be aware of as well."
Byrne named a strong line-up to try to contain Suaalii and the Wallabies, who are looking to make amends after losing their last clash against Fiji at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Byrne has since replaced Simon Raiwalui as coach, but has been able to include 13 players who were part of that historic match in France, posting their first win over Australia in 69 years.
That includes the entire forward pack apart from flanker Elia Canakaivata.
Fiji have their own midfield weapon in Josua Tuisova, who was key to their success in Saint Etienne, with Byrne looking to get some punch from the inside centre.
Weighing 113kg, Tuisova's nicknames are "Human Bulldozer" and "The Bus".
"Josh shifts the ball well and he's got great feet and he's a big, strong player," Byrne said of Tuisova, who plays for Racing 92 in France's Top 14.
"We've got the opportunity to use him to get across the gain line early ...so being able to have Josh there is awesome for us because he does give us pretty good go-forward."
While the World Cup win has bolstered belief, Byrne said the changes to the Wallabies since then presented a different challenge as his team looked to notch a third win in Australia, with the last in 1954.
"The last start was two years ago, so different coaching regime, different players on the field, and I like the way (Australia coach Joe Schmidt) has got the Wallabies playing and now they're playing great footy," Byrne said.
"So they're a completely different proposition to previous and we've got to be ready for that as they've got threats across the field.
"I think it'd be great to beat Australia in Australia, to get a victory on Australian soil."
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
As Aussie as meat pies and Holden: farewell Dapto Dogs
It's a random winter's night at the world famous Dapto Dogs and no more than 50 people are in attendance. The subdued scene makes it hard to believe thousands once routinely packed into the showground's grandstand to watch the greyhounds go around. In less than a year, there will be nobody left in the stands as the lights on the iconic track are turned off for the final time. The first race meet at Dapto was held in February 1937. Next June, just shy of its 90th year in operation, the racetrack will close. The decision came after the showground's owners, the Dapto Agricultural and Horticultural Society, opted not to extend its lease. David from Goulburn, who is happy to chat but prefers not to give his last name, has been a hobby trainer since 1958 and spent decades travelling to racetracks across southern NSW. While the 84-year-old is saddened by the reality Dapto will close, he acknowledges the sport needs to progress. "Racing has been good to me ... there's good money to be earned," he tells AAP. "There was a time there would be thousands of people in the stands but since COVID people prefer to stay at home. "I'll be sad to see Dapto close but that's just progress." Greyhound NSW chief executive Steve Griffin, who took on the job in March, says the organisation initially tried to negotiate a 20-year lease with the owners but were unsuccessful. "It's very much a landlord-tenant thing so we've got no real basis to challenge it," he laments. "At the end of the day we need to make long-term investments in the sport and we're ready to do that, so we need to move on." But the closure at Dapto has been a hard pill to swallow. "For the staff and local trainers who have been using that site for generations, they are grieving and have a sense of loss, as do people in the community," Mr Griffin says. "It may sound clichéd but the Dapto Dogs is as Australian as meat pies and Holden cars and whether you are a punter or not, you have heard of the name. "It is an iconic venue and location and it's disappointing but we do need to move forward." Twenty-year-old Seth Hermann is one of the younger brigade of Dapto locals rarely seen at the track of late. He remembers going to the races with his dad as a five-year-old, back when a full house was the standard. Now an apprentice electrician, seeing the track lights aglow on his way home from work and in the knowledge they won't be on for much longer, he decided to pull in for a drink or two. "I'm not skilled enough for punting but I'll give the dogs a watch," he offers. "Every Thursday on my way home from work, I see the lights and think I should go watch but I don't. "I saw the lights tonight and thought I better come and see it before it shuts because who knows when the next time I can come will be." But even he expected a few more people to have the same idea. "(The closure) is sad news, not so much that it's stopping racing but just that this is something that Dapto is known for," he says. "You see it on TV and you think that's pretty cool, I shop there, I live there." Trainers and punters will still have two greyhound racing options in the Illawarra area, further north at Bulli and to the south at Nowra. Greyhound NSW insists racing is a thriving sport in the state, with 26 clubs. It holds more than 1200 meetings a year, hosting 14,000 races, attracting almost 170,000 spectators and paying out more than $50 million in prize money. It also generates more than $800 million every year, supporting more than 4500 jobs of which almost half are in regional areas. The organisation is currently completing an optimisation process, as there are currently too many racecourses in NSW. Compared to 13 in Victoria, there are 27 in NSW. It's also difficult for clubs to maintain a profit if they are only racing once a week, Mr Griffin says. "We want to connect, excite and delight the community," he explains. "That could mean changing what the product looks like, racing on astroturf and straight tracks, with safety for greyhounds the imperative. "We need to get even better at welfare and reducing injury rates and we need to place the greyhounds in good homes when they become pets." The industry is preparing to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2027. As for the next 100 years, appealing to the next generation will be key to its survival. There are between 200 and 300 trainers under the age of 25, Mr Griffin says. "We are cognisant of the fact the industry has a very aged demographic and we need to have a future of people in the sport," he adds. "It's not an easy life to be a trainer and it's not attractive for a lot of people. "But there are those looking to come into the sport and we need to support them." It's a random winter's night at the world famous Dapto Dogs and no more than 50 people are in attendance. The subdued scene makes it hard to believe thousands once routinely packed into the showground's grandstand to watch the greyhounds go around. In less than a year, there will be nobody left in the stands as the lights on the iconic track are turned off for the final time. The first race meet at Dapto was held in February 1937. Next June, just shy of its 90th year in operation, the racetrack will close. The decision came after the showground's owners, the Dapto Agricultural and Horticultural Society, opted not to extend its lease. David from Goulburn, who is happy to chat but prefers not to give his last name, has been a hobby trainer since 1958 and spent decades travelling to racetracks across southern NSW. While the 84-year-old is saddened by the reality Dapto will close, he acknowledges the sport needs to progress. "Racing has been good to me ... there's good money to be earned," he tells AAP. "There was a time there would be thousands of people in the stands but since COVID people prefer to stay at home. "I'll be sad to see Dapto close but that's just progress." Greyhound NSW chief executive Steve Griffin, who took on the job in March, says the organisation initially tried to negotiate a 20-year lease with the owners but were unsuccessful. "It's very much a landlord-tenant thing so we've got no real basis to challenge it," he laments. "At the end of the day we need to make long-term investments in the sport and we're ready to do that, so we need to move on." But the closure at Dapto has been a hard pill to swallow. "For the staff and local trainers who have been using that site for generations, they are grieving and have a sense of loss, as do people in the community," Mr Griffin says. "It may sound clichéd but the Dapto Dogs is as Australian as meat pies and Holden cars and whether you are a punter or not, you have heard of the name. "It is an iconic venue and location and it's disappointing but we do need to move forward." Twenty-year-old Seth Hermann is one of the younger brigade of Dapto locals rarely seen at the track of late. He remembers going to the races with his dad as a five-year-old, back when a full house was the standard. Now an apprentice electrician, seeing the track lights aglow on his way home from work and in the knowledge they won't be on for much longer, he decided to pull in for a drink or two. "I'm not skilled enough for punting but I'll give the dogs a watch," he offers. "Every Thursday on my way home from work, I see the lights and think I should go watch but I don't. "I saw the lights tonight and thought I better come and see it before it shuts because who knows when the next time I can come will be." But even he expected a few more people to have the same idea. "(The closure) is sad news, not so much that it's stopping racing but just that this is something that Dapto is known for," he says. "You see it on TV and you think that's pretty cool, I shop there, I live there." Trainers and punters will still have two greyhound racing options in the Illawarra area, further north at Bulli and to the south at Nowra. Greyhound NSW insists racing is a thriving sport in the state, with 26 clubs. It holds more than 1200 meetings a year, hosting 14,000 races, attracting almost 170,000 spectators and paying out more than $50 million in prize money. It also generates more than $800 million every year, supporting more than 4500 jobs of which almost half are in regional areas. The organisation is currently completing an optimisation process, as there are currently too many racecourses in NSW. Compared to 13 in Victoria, there are 27 in NSW. It's also difficult for clubs to maintain a profit if they are only racing once a week, Mr Griffin says. "We want to connect, excite and delight the community," he explains. "That could mean changing what the product looks like, racing on astroturf and straight tracks, with safety for greyhounds the imperative. "We need to get even better at welfare and reducing injury rates and we need to place the greyhounds in good homes when they become pets." The industry is preparing to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2027. As for the next 100 years, appealing to the next generation will be key to its survival. There are between 200 and 300 trainers under the age of 25, Mr Griffin says. "We are cognisant of the fact the industry has a very aged demographic and we need to have a future of people in the sport," he adds. "It's not an easy life to be a trainer and it's not attractive for a lot of people. "But there are those looking to come into the sport and we need to support them." It's a random winter's night at the world famous Dapto Dogs and no more than 50 people are in attendance. The subdued scene makes it hard to believe thousands once routinely packed into the showground's grandstand to watch the greyhounds go around. In less than a year, there will be nobody left in the stands as the lights on the iconic track are turned off for the final time. The first race meet at Dapto was held in February 1937. Next June, just shy of its 90th year in operation, the racetrack will close. The decision came after the showground's owners, the Dapto Agricultural and Horticultural Society, opted not to extend its lease. David from Goulburn, who is happy to chat but prefers not to give his last name, has been a hobby trainer since 1958 and spent decades travelling to racetracks across southern NSW. While the 84-year-old is saddened by the reality Dapto will close, he acknowledges the sport needs to progress. "Racing has been good to me ... there's good money to be earned," he tells AAP. "There was a time there would be thousands of people in the stands but since COVID people prefer to stay at home. "I'll be sad to see Dapto close but that's just progress." Greyhound NSW chief executive Steve Griffin, who took on the job in March, says the organisation initially tried to negotiate a 20-year lease with the owners but were unsuccessful. "It's very much a landlord-tenant thing so we've got no real basis to challenge it," he laments. "At the end of the day we need to make long-term investments in the sport and we're ready to do that, so we need to move on." But the closure at Dapto has been a hard pill to swallow. "For the staff and local trainers who have been using that site for generations, they are grieving and have a sense of loss, as do people in the community," Mr Griffin says. "It may sound clichéd but the Dapto Dogs is as Australian as meat pies and Holden cars and whether you are a punter or not, you have heard of the name. "It is an iconic venue and location and it's disappointing but we do need to move forward." Twenty-year-old Seth Hermann is one of the younger brigade of Dapto locals rarely seen at the track of late. He remembers going to the races with his dad as a five-year-old, back when a full house was the standard. Now an apprentice electrician, seeing the track lights aglow on his way home from work and in the knowledge they won't be on for much longer, he decided to pull in for a drink or two. "I'm not skilled enough for punting but I'll give the dogs a watch," he offers. "Every Thursday on my way home from work, I see the lights and think I should go watch but I don't. "I saw the lights tonight and thought I better come and see it before it shuts because who knows when the next time I can come will be." But even he expected a few more people to have the same idea. "(The closure) is sad news, not so much that it's stopping racing but just that this is something that Dapto is known for," he says. "You see it on TV and you think that's pretty cool, I shop there, I live there." Trainers and punters will still have two greyhound racing options in the Illawarra area, further north at Bulli and to the south at Nowra. Greyhound NSW insists racing is a thriving sport in the state, with 26 clubs. It holds more than 1200 meetings a year, hosting 14,000 races, attracting almost 170,000 spectators and paying out more than $50 million in prize money. It also generates more than $800 million every year, supporting more than 4500 jobs of which almost half are in regional areas. The organisation is currently completing an optimisation process, as there are currently too many racecourses in NSW. Compared to 13 in Victoria, there are 27 in NSW. It's also difficult for clubs to maintain a profit if they are only racing once a week, Mr Griffin says. "We want to connect, excite and delight the community," he explains. "That could mean changing what the product looks like, racing on astroturf and straight tracks, with safety for greyhounds the imperative. "We need to get even better at welfare and reducing injury rates and we need to place the greyhounds in good homes when they become pets." The industry is preparing to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2027. As for the next 100 years, appealing to the next generation will be key to its survival. There are between 200 and 300 trainers under the age of 25, Mr Griffin says. "We are cognisant of the fact the industry has a very aged demographic and we need to have a future of people in the sport," he adds. "It's not an easy life to be a trainer and it's not attractive for a lot of people. "But there are those looking to come into the sport and we need to support them." It's a random winter's night at the world famous Dapto Dogs and no more than 50 people are in attendance. The subdued scene makes it hard to believe thousands once routinely packed into the showground's grandstand to watch the greyhounds go around. In less than a year, there will be nobody left in the stands as the lights on the iconic track are turned off for the final time. The first race meet at Dapto was held in February 1937. Next June, just shy of its 90th year in operation, the racetrack will close. The decision came after the showground's owners, the Dapto Agricultural and Horticultural Society, opted not to extend its lease. David from Goulburn, who is happy to chat but prefers not to give his last name, has been a hobby trainer since 1958 and spent decades travelling to racetracks across southern NSW. While the 84-year-old is saddened by the reality Dapto will close, he acknowledges the sport needs to progress. "Racing has been good to me ... there's good money to be earned," he tells AAP. "There was a time there would be thousands of people in the stands but since COVID people prefer to stay at home. "I'll be sad to see Dapto close but that's just progress." Greyhound NSW chief executive Steve Griffin, who took on the job in March, says the organisation initially tried to negotiate a 20-year lease with the owners but were unsuccessful. "It's very much a landlord-tenant thing so we've got no real basis to challenge it," he laments. "At the end of the day we need to make long-term investments in the sport and we're ready to do that, so we need to move on." But the closure at Dapto has been a hard pill to swallow. "For the staff and local trainers who have been using that site for generations, they are grieving and have a sense of loss, as do people in the community," Mr Griffin says. "It may sound clichéd but the Dapto Dogs is as Australian as meat pies and Holden cars and whether you are a punter or not, you have heard of the name. "It is an iconic venue and location and it's disappointing but we do need to move forward." Twenty-year-old Seth Hermann is one of the younger brigade of Dapto locals rarely seen at the track of late. He remembers going to the races with his dad as a five-year-old, back when a full house was the standard. Now an apprentice electrician, seeing the track lights aglow on his way home from work and in the knowledge they won't be on for much longer, he decided to pull in for a drink or two. "I'm not skilled enough for punting but I'll give the dogs a watch," he offers. "Every Thursday on my way home from work, I see the lights and think I should go watch but I don't. "I saw the lights tonight and thought I better come and see it before it shuts because who knows when the next time I can come will be." But even he expected a few more people to have the same idea. "(The closure) is sad news, not so much that it's stopping racing but just that this is something that Dapto is known for," he says. "You see it on TV and you think that's pretty cool, I shop there, I live there." Trainers and punters will still have two greyhound racing options in the Illawarra area, further north at Bulli and to the south at Nowra. Greyhound NSW insists racing is a thriving sport in the state, with 26 clubs. It holds more than 1200 meetings a year, hosting 14,000 races, attracting almost 170,000 spectators and paying out more than $50 million in prize money. It also generates more than $800 million every year, supporting more than 4500 jobs of which almost half are in regional areas. The organisation is currently completing an optimisation process, as there are currently too many racecourses in NSW. Compared to 13 in Victoria, there are 27 in NSW. It's also difficult for clubs to maintain a profit if they are only racing once a week, Mr Griffin says. "We want to connect, excite and delight the community," he explains. "That could mean changing what the product looks like, racing on astroturf and straight tracks, with safety for greyhounds the imperative. "We need to get even better at welfare and reducing injury rates and we need to place the greyhounds in good homes when they become pets." The industry is preparing to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2027. As for the next 100 years, appealing to the next generation will be key to its survival. There are between 200 and 300 trainers under the age of 25, Mr Griffin says. "We are cognisant of the fact the industry has a very aged demographic and we need to have a future of people in the sport," he adds. "It's not an easy life to be a trainer and it's not attractive for a lot of people. "But there are those looking to come into the sport and we need to support them."
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Aussie batting woes continue against Windies quicks
Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja's fledgling opening partnership is on shaky ground after Australia's openers were again dismissed cheaply against the West Indies. Australia slumped to 2-12 at stumps on day two of the second Test in Grenada, leading by just 45 after bowling the Windies out for 253. Konstas was left shattered after he was out for a duck, playing on to his stumps from a Jayden Seales delivery. The 19-year-old, in just his fourth Test, looked better in the first innings with 25, after scores of 3 and 5 during the opening match of the series in Barbados. Konstas was given support by veteran quick Josh Hazlewood. "You're here for a reason," Hazlewood told reporters when asked what advice he would give Konstas. "You're in this position because you're a good player. "Every time I've bowled to him in the last couple of months he keeps getting better and better. "He's a quick learner, absorbs everything. "Got thrown into a tough situation there ... but he's heading in the right direction. "We saw there late at night, that's the toughest time to bat with a new ball." Australia were left reeling at 2-4 when Khawaja, 19 years Konstas's senior, was trapped lbw by Seales. The veteran left-hander was again exposed by a right-arm quick coming around the wicket. Nathan Lyon was sent out as nightwatchman, still with 18 minutes until stumps, but was able to navigate the tricky period with Cameron Green. Replying to the Aussies' 286, West Indies limped to tea on day two on 7-185. But some crucial lower-order runs from Shamar Joseph (29) and Alzarri Joseph (27) helped the hosts cut Australia's lead to just 33 when they were dismissed for 253. Australia's legendary bowling attack shared the wickets around, with Lyon (3-75) leading the way. Hazlewood (2-43) and Pat Cummins (2-46) were typically dangerous, while Travis Head's part-time off-spin was successfully used to find the 10th wicket to wrap up the innings. When opener Kraigg Brathwaite fell without scoring off the 11th ball of the day, caught and bowled by Hazlewood, it was just the tonic the tourists needed. And when Keacy Carty was dismissed by Cummins for six in the ninth over, the Aussie attack looked in the mood to inflict serious damage. It was, indeed, a magnificent moment for the Australian captain, the ball hanging in the air for a seeming eternity before it began to fall to where a bat pad would have been. Cummins made ground in his follow through and timed his dive perfectly to complete the catch. It got even better when John Campbell, the other opener, was sent back to the pavilion, caught by Mitchell Starc off Beau Webster after a brisk 40 that included five boundaries. Left-hander Campbell tried to loft over the leg side but could only lob the ball high into the air and straight down the throat of Starc at mid-on. The West Indies stood on a fragile-looking 3-64. But then the home side steadied, losing no more wickets before reaching lunch on 3-110. Brandon King (39) and Roston Chase (16) steadied the West Indies with a 46-run fourth-wicket stand. Just one more run had been added when Chase fell lbw to Hazlewood. Cummins removed Shai Hope to leave West Indies on 5-169, and the home side were faltering again when King's defiance was ended four balls later, caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey off Nathan Lyon and given after a review. Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja's fledgling opening partnership is on shaky ground after Australia's openers were again dismissed cheaply against the West Indies. Australia slumped to 2-12 at stumps on day two of the second Test in Grenada, leading by just 45 after bowling the Windies out for 253. Konstas was left shattered after he was out for a duck, playing on to his stumps from a Jayden Seales delivery. The 19-year-old, in just his fourth Test, looked better in the first innings with 25, after scores of 3 and 5 during the opening match of the series in Barbados. Konstas was given support by veteran quick Josh Hazlewood. "You're here for a reason," Hazlewood told reporters when asked what advice he would give Konstas. "You're in this position because you're a good player. "Every time I've bowled to him in the last couple of months he keeps getting better and better. "He's a quick learner, absorbs everything. "Got thrown into a tough situation there ... but he's heading in the right direction. "We saw there late at night, that's the toughest time to bat with a new ball." Australia were left reeling at 2-4 when Khawaja, 19 years Konstas's senior, was trapped lbw by Seales. The veteran left-hander was again exposed by a right-arm quick coming around the wicket. Nathan Lyon was sent out as nightwatchman, still with 18 minutes until stumps, but was able to navigate the tricky period with Cameron Green. Replying to the Aussies' 286, West Indies limped to tea on day two on 7-185. But some crucial lower-order runs from Shamar Joseph (29) and Alzarri Joseph (27) helped the hosts cut Australia's lead to just 33 when they were dismissed for 253. Australia's legendary bowling attack shared the wickets around, with Lyon (3-75) leading the way. Hazlewood (2-43) and Pat Cummins (2-46) were typically dangerous, while Travis Head's part-time off-spin was successfully used to find the 10th wicket to wrap up the innings. When opener Kraigg Brathwaite fell without scoring off the 11th ball of the day, caught and bowled by Hazlewood, it was just the tonic the tourists needed. And when Keacy Carty was dismissed by Cummins for six in the ninth over, the Aussie attack looked in the mood to inflict serious damage. It was, indeed, a magnificent moment for the Australian captain, the ball hanging in the air for a seeming eternity before it began to fall to where a bat pad would have been. Cummins made ground in his follow through and timed his dive perfectly to complete the catch. It got even better when John Campbell, the other opener, was sent back to the pavilion, caught by Mitchell Starc off Beau Webster after a brisk 40 that included five boundaries. Left-hander Campbell tried to loft over the leg side but could only lob the ball high into the air and straight down the throat of Starc at mid-on. The West Indies stood on a fragile-looking 3-64. But then the home side steadied, losing no more wickets before reaching lunch on 3-110. Brandon King (39) and Roston Chase (16) steadied the West Indies with a 46-run fourth-wicket stand. Just one more run had been added when Chase fell lbw to Hazlewood. Cummins removed Shai Hope to leave West Indies on 5-169, and the home side were faltering again when King's defiance was ended four balls later, caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey off Nathan Lyon and given after a review. Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja's fledgling opening partnership is on shaky ground after Australia's openers were again dismissed cheaply against the West Indies. Australia slumped to 2-12 at stumps on day two of the second Test in Grenada, leading by just 45 after bowling the Windies out for 253. Konstas was left shattered after he was out for a duck, playing on to his stumps from a Jayden Seales delivery. The 19-year-old, in just his fourth Test, looked better in the first innings with 25, after scores of 3 and 5 during the opening match of the series in Barbados. Konstas was given support by veteran quick Josh Hazlewood. "You're here for a reason," Hazlewood told reporters when asked what advice he would give Konstas. "You're in this position because you're a good player. "Every time I've bowled to him in the last couple of months he keeps getting better and better. "He's a quick learner, absorbs everything. "Got thrown into a tough situation there ... but he's heading in the right direction. "We saw there late at night, that's the toughest time to bat with a new ball." Australia were left reeling at 2-4 when Khawaja, 19 years Konstas's senior, was trapped lbw by Seales. The veteran left-hander was again exposed by a right-arm quick coming around the wicket. Nathan Lyon was sent out as nightwatchman, still with 18 minutes until stumps, but was able to navigate the tricky period with Cameron Green. Replying to the Aussies' 286, West Indies limped to tea on day two on 7-185. But some crucial lower-order runs from Shamar Joseph (29) and Alzarri Joseph (27) helped the hosts cut Australia's lead to just 33 when they were dismissed for 253. Australia's legendary bowling attack shared the wickets around, with Lyon (3-75) leading the way. Hazlewood (2-43) and Pat Cummins (2-46) were typically dangerous, while Travis Head's part-time off-spin was successfully used to find the 10th wicket to wrap up the innings. When opener Kraigg Brathwaite fell without scoring off the 11th ball of the day, caught and bowled by Hazlewood, it was just the tonic the tourists needed. And when Keacy Carty was dismissed by Cummins for six in the ninth over, the Aussie attack looked in the mood to inflict serious damage. It was, indeed, a magnificent moment for the Australian captain, the ball hanging in the air for a seeming eternity before it began to fall to where a bat pad would have been. Cummins made ground in his follow through and timed his dive perfectly to complete the catch. It got even better when John Campbell, the other opener, was sent back to the pavilion, caught by Mitchell Starc off Beau Webster after a brisk 40 that included five boundaries. Left-hander Campbell tried to loft over the leg side but could only lob the ball high into the air and straight down the throat of Starc at mid-on. The West Indies stood on a fragile-looking 3-64. But then the home side steadied, losing no more wickets before reaching lunch on 3-110. Brandon King (39) and Roston Chase (16) steadied the West Indies with a 46-run fourth-wicket stand. Just one more run had been added when Chase fell lbw to Hazlewood. Cummins removed Shai Hope to leave West Indies on 5-169, and the home side were faltering again when King's defiance was ended four balls later, caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey off Nathan Lyon and given after a review.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
FULL WRAP: Windies fight back in second Test
Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja's fledgling opening partnership is on shaky ground after Australia's openers were again dismissed cheaply against the West Indies. Australia slumped to 2-12 at stumps on day two of the second Test in Grenada, leading by just 45 after bowling the Windies out for 253. Konstas was left shattered after he was out for a duck, playing onto his stumps from a Jayden Seales delivery. The 19-year-old, in just his fourth Test, looked better in the first innings with 25, after scores of 3 and 5 during the opening match of the series in Barbados. Australia were left reeling at 2-4 when Khawaja, 19 years Konstas's senior, was trapped lbw by Seales. The veteran left-hander was again exposed by a right-arm quick coming around the wicket. Nathan Lyon was sent out as nightwatchman, still with 18 minutes until stumps, but was able to navigate the tricky period with Cameron Green. Replying to the Aussies' 286, West Indies limped to tea on day two on 7-185. But some crucial lower-order runs from Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph helped the hosts cut Australia's lead to just 33 when they were dismissed for 253. Australia's legendary bowling attack shared the wickets around, with Lyon (3-75) leading the way. Josh Hazlewood (2-43) and Pat Cummins (2-46) were typically dangerous, while Travis Head's part-time off-spin was successfully used to find the 10th wicket to wrap up the innings. When opener Kraigg Brathwaite fell without scoring off the 11th ball of the day, caught and bowled by Hazlewood, it was just the tonic the tourists needed. And when Keacy Carty was dismissed by Cummins for six in the ninth over, the Aussie attack looked in the mood to inflict serious damage. It was, indeed, a magnificent moment for the Australian captain, the ball hanging in the air for a seeming eternity before it began to fall to where a bat-pad would have been. Cummins made ground in his follow-through and timed his dive perfectly to complete the catch. It got even better when John Campbell, the other opener, was sent back to the pavilion, caught by Mitchell Starc off Beau Webster after a brisk 40 that included five boundaries. Left-hander Campbell tried to loft over the leg side but could only lob the ball high into the air and straight down the throat of Starc at mid-on. The West Indies stood on a fragile-looking 3-64. But then the home side steadied, losing no more wickets before reaching lunch on 3-110. Brandon King (39) and Roston Chase (16) steadied the West Indies with a 46-run fourth-wicket stand. Just one more run had been added when Chase fell lbw to Hazlewood. Cummins removed Shai Hope to leave West Indies on 5-169, and the home side were faltering again when King's defiance was ended four balls later, caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey off Nathan Lyon and given after a review. West Indies currently trail by 45 runs and are yet to bat in the second innings.
