Aus win first Test as WI batting collapses
Josh Hazlewood of Australia took five wickets in his side's win against the West Indies. Photo: AFP
Australia's vaunted pace attack demolished West Indies' fragile batting, routing the hosts for just 141 off 33.4 overs to complete a comprehensive 159-run victory in the final over of the third day of the first Test at Kensington Oval on Friday.
Josh Hazlewood was the chief destroyer with figures of 5-43 as the tourists dominated the day with both ball and bat.
Half-centuries from Alex Carey, Beau Webster and Travis Head were the fulcrum of a recovery from 65-4 late on day two to a final second innings total of 310 at tea the next day.
Shamar Joseph led the West Indies bowling effort with five wickets at the cost of 87 runs for a match haul of 9-133.
Any winning target in excess of 200 was always going to be challenging on this two-paced surface.
As it transpired, the West Indies never looked up to the task from the moment former captain Kraigg Brathwaite fell to Mitchell Starc in the first over.
Hazlewood then took centre stage. His metronomic accuracy accounted for John Campbell and debutant Brandon King off successive balls, before adding the wickets of captain Roston Chase and Keacy Carty.
Chase's Australian counterpart, Pat Cummins, removed first innings top-scorer Shai Hope and insult was added to considerable injury when substitute fielder Marnus Labuschagne ran out Alzarri Joseph with a direct hit to the striker's end from mid-off.
'Hitting the right areas'
Hazlewood returned to the attack to prise out Jomel Warrican but Shamar Joseph entertained with 44 off 22 balls before falling to off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who then dismissed Jayden Seales first ball to complete victory with two days to spare. Justin Greaves was left unbeaten on 38.
"It was just about hitting the right areas time and time again and just being patient," said Hazlewood in identifying the tactics to capitalise on the challenging surface.
"There are a few cracks there on a good length and just short of a length which kept the batters guessing about going forward or back with a few skidding through as we saw."
Australia's intent was clear at the start of the day as Head and Webster transformed the consolidation of the previous evening to controlled aggression in a partnership of 102 for the fifth wicket.
Head was trapped lbw for 61 by Shamar Joseph 20 minutes before lunch.
However, the course of the first session could have been very different had Greaves held on to another straightforward catch at second slip off Alzarri Joseph when the left-hander was on 22.
It was the seventh chance put down by the West Indies slip cordon in the match, a poor display in one of the fundamental aspects of the game which began on day one when four catches were shelled.
With a clear intent on aggression on a pitch becoming increasingly two-paced, the Australians progressed at almost a run-a-minute after lunch despite wickets falling at regular intervals.
Carey, who top-scored with 65, built on the platform laid by Head and Webster (63), who fell caught behind off the persevering Shamar Joseph.
The right-armer also accounted for Starc and wrapped up the innings when last man Hazlewood was bowled off the inside edge to give the Guyanese pacer his fourth five-wicket haul and third against Australia.
By then though, the task already looked beyond the West Indies, which was confirmed two balls before stumps.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
11 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Behind Wimbledon's floral magic
Wimbledon head gardener Martyn Falconer is the only man at the All England Club who welcomes a drop of rain, reports AFP. While wet weather wreaks havoc with the tournament schedule, he is not disappointed with the occasional cloudburst to keep his spectacular flower displays in perfect condition. Falconer oversees the delivery of 27,000 plants for the Championships in leafy southwest London to add to thousands already in place in the immaculate grounds. Hydrangeas and petunias in blues, purples and whites tumble over the sides of hanging baskets and window boxes, filling herbaceous borders and floral installations. Roses are scattered throughout the grounds and Boston ivy creeps over the outside walls of Centre Court to create the picture-perfect Grand Slam event. Falconer, who has worked at the All England Club for 25 years, spending 11 years in his current role, says Wimbledon's ethos is "tennis in an English garden". He manages a team of 10 permanent gardeners and two apprentices, which expands by around 10 in the lead-up to the tournament, which this year starts on June 30. Falconer's team was this week applying the final tweaks as the club prepares to throw open its doors to thousands of tennis fans from Monday. "We're making sure it looks lovely and presentable for everyone," he said. "It's never-ending. And then from the Monday, once the public are in, we kind of take a little bit of a breath. "But then every morning it's watering and maintaining and deadheading and just making sure everything looks good for everyone coming on each day." The horticulture team keeps a stock of spare plants in reserve to replenish those that are damaged by the crowds that swarm the All England Club. "We've got a nice selection of bits and pieces just in case of an accident," said Falconer. "We do get a lot of bums sat on the planters. Where there's somewhere to park a bum, they will. "We've got what we call a Wimbledon twist, so we can get a couple of days out of a hydrangea or a few plants. And then when it gets to the point of no more twisting, we'll do a little swap around." Falconer's aim is to have the grounds looking as pristine on the final day of the Championships as they do on day one. 'There's nothing like it' Tradition plays a big role in the planting colour schemes but there is some room for innovation. "Obviously we've got our greens and purples and whites, which are very Wimbledon," he said. "For us, it's more actually about the feel of being in an English garden. So that gives us a greater palette to work with, nothing too garish - we won't go super bright oranges everywhere. But it allows us to bring in all those pastel colours, pinks, yellows." "We can't get them in too late because they grow too much," said Falconer. "So we need to do most of that growing here. So the nursery will pot them on, get them started, and then they come to us." The team is continuously assessing the performances of specific plant varieties but plans are carefully calibrated to make sure the grounds are always saturated with colour. "We have enough variation that there's always something doing something," said Falconer. "And hopefully most of it's doing what we want it to do at the right time." Wimbledon's head gardener said one of the challenges is adapting to a changing climate. There have been weeks of warm, dry weather in the build-up to this year's tournament. "It's challenging," said Falconer. "I'm the only one walking around looking for a little bit of rain I think at Wimbledon." He and his team might breathe a sigh of relief when the last fan leaves after the two-week tournament, but managing the 42-acre site at the All England Club is a year-round task. "It's a big site, so there's a lot to do," he said. "Pruning, hedge-cutting, mulching, making sure it's good and ready for the springtime." Despite the pressure, Falconer still gets a buzz from his work even after so many years. "There's nothing like it," he said. "You work to get it delivered and that first day when the public walk through the gate there's a sigh of relief that it's done but then you almost start again."
Express Tribune
12 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Aus win first Test as WI batting collapses
Josh Hazlewood of Australia took five wickets in his side's win against the West Indies. Photo: AFP Australia's vaunted pace attack demolished West Indies' fragile batting, routing the hosts for just 141 off 33.4 overs to complete a comprehensive 159-run victory in the final over of the third day of the first Test at Kensington Oval on Friday. Josh Hazlewood was the chief destroyer with figures of 5-43 as the tourists dominated the day with both ball and bat. Half-centuries from Alex Carey, Beau Webster and Travis Head were the fulcrum of a recovery from 65-4 late on day two to a final second innings total of 310 at tea the next day. Shamar Joseph led the West Indies bowling effort with five wickets at the cost of 87 runs for a match haul of 9-133. Any winning target in excess of 200 was always going to be challenging on this two-paced surface. As it transpired, the West Indies never looked up to the task from the moment former captain Kraigg Brathwaite fell to Mitchell Starc in the first over. Hazlewood then took centre stage. His metronomic accuracy accounted for John Campbell and debutant Brandon King off successive balls, before adding the wickets of captain Roston Chase and Keacy Carty. Chase's Australian counterpart, Pat Cummins, removed first innings top-scorer Shai Hope and insult was added to considerable injury when substitute fielder Marnus Labuschagne ran out Alzarri Joseph with a direct hit to the striker's end from mid-off. 'Hitting the right areas' Hazlewood returned to the attack to prise out Jomel Warrican but Shamar Joseph entertained with 44 off 22 balls before falling to off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who then dismissed Jayden Seales first ball to complete victory with two days to spare. Justin Greaves was left unbeaten on 38. "It was just about hitting the right areas time and time again and just being patient," said Hazlewood in identifying the tactics to capitalise on the challenging surface. "There are a few cracks there on a good length and just short of a length which kept the batters guessing about going forward or back with a few skidding through as we saw." Australia's intent was clear at the start of the day as Head and Webster transformed the consolidation of the previous evening to controlled aggression in a partnership of 102 for the fifth wicket. Head was trapped lbw for 61 by Shamar Joseph 20 minutes before lunch. However, the course of the first session could have been very different had Greaves held on to another straightforward catch at second slip off Alzarri Joseph when the left-hander was on 22. It was the seventh chance put down by the West Indies slip cordon in the match, a poor display in one of the fundamental aspects of the game which began on day one when four catches were shelled. With a clear intent on aggression on a pitch becoming increasingly two-paced, the Australians progressed at almost a run-a-minute after lunch despite wickets falling at regular intervals. Carey, who top-scored with 65, built on the platform laid by Head and Webster (63), who fell caught behind off the persevering Shamar Joseph. The right-armer also accounted for Starc and wrapped up the innings when last man Hazlewood was bowled off the inside edge to give the Guyanese pacer his fourth five-wicket haul and third against Australia. By then though, the task already looked beyond the West Indies, which was confirmed two balls before stumps.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Eng chief Key says Archer can pick up Test career
The return of fast bowler Jofra Archer to Tests is a dangerous sign for Indian batsmen due to his raw pace. PHOTO: AFP England supremo Rob Key expects Jofra Archer to slot back into an old routine should "one of the best bowlers in the world" make his long-awaited return to Test cricket next week. The 30-year-old express quick has been included in England's squad for the second Test against India at Edgbaston after an absence from red-ball internationals of more than four years. Archer, hampered by injuries during his career, has played just 13 Tests -- with 42 wickets at an average of 31 -- and none since February 2021. But one of the most talented cricketers of his generation has now been recalled to the Test squad on the back of just one County Championship match this season, away to Durham last week, where Archer took 1-32 in 18 overs. "He's a pretty pure talent, there's not a lot of moving parts to his action in terms of complications, and he's 30-years-old now," Key told reporters in London on Friday. "He knows exactly what he's doing and what he's about. So it's more of a question of him just getting back into red-ball cricket." Key, speaking at a media event staged by series sponsors Rothesay, added: "The whole Jofra plan has been a long time in the making... We had Neil Killeen up there (at Durham), one of our (England) bowling coaches. And Key insisted England were not taking a risk with Archer's fitness as they decide whether to play him at Edgbaston or at Lord's for the third Test. "When he finally comes back either next week or the week after, touch wood, then that will be brilliant," said Key. "He will be fit and available for both (Tests). Whether he could play both, we'll find that out afterwards, if he did play at Edgbaston. "He isn't going to forget how to bowl. He's an unbelievable talent. I think Jof is one of the best bowlers in the world." Archer, however, could struggle to get back into an England side that chalked up a stunning five-wicket victory over India in the first of a five-Test series at Headingley last week. But if he is overlooked in Birmingham, he could return to Sussex to play the last two days of their County Championship match against Warwickshire next week. "We've picked him in the squad and we'll see how the conditions are," said former England batsman Key. "We've got decisions to make because these next two Tests are very close together and you want to be able to sustain that pressure throughout these back-to-back Test matches. "The guys (who played at Headingley) got better the more they bowled. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. (Anyone who is not selected) can go back and play the last two days of the championship."
