6 days ago
Australia-West Indies Test in the balance after another day of drama
The first Test against the West Indies is in the balance after Australia bowled out the hosts for 190 but then made a nervous start to their second innings.
The Aussies hit back after a poor morning session and were trailing by 10 runs when teenage opener Sam Konstas and veteran Usman Khawaja headed out to the crease.
Konstas made a less than convincing start, and was dropped twice in the slips off the bowling of Shamar Joseph.
The pair cobbled together a shaky partnership of 27 before Alzarri Joseph hit the pads of Khawaja and appealed for LBW.
Despite demanding a review, Khawaja was out with replays showing the ball would have just hit the top of the bails.
Enter allrounder Cameron Green.
'(For the) first time Sam Konstas and Cam Green are batting together in Tests. At a combined age of 44. The future is here for Australia's Test team. How many more times will we see these two bat together over the next decade or more?' said commentator Bharat Sundaresan.
Well, according fans, the answer to that question is not many as Konstas again fell cheaply — off the bowling Joseph — after edging the ball onto his stumps for just 5.
It was a sloppy effort from Konstas and fans were quick to question the youngster's Test credentials (he has made a total of eight runs in this Test).
'Konstas as an opener is a HOAX,' one fan raged on social media.
And another said: 'Konstas fails again ... painful to watch.'
Others suggested the pairing of Green and Konstas at Test level will be short-lived.
'That might be the last time (we see Konstas and Green together),' one fan bluntly said.
Another said: 'Hopefully not many (more Tests). Konstas is so technically deficient. It's in his own interests that he goes back to Shield cricket for five years,'
Another added: 'Not many. Green is legit but Konstas looks genuinely terrible.'
And another: 'Konstas gets 3 & 5 in the match. Some future ...'
And another: 'Seriously! Is Sam Konstas the best opener Aus could muster? The guy is a walking wicket
And another: 'If this happens Decline of Aussie cricket begins
And another: 'Sam is all noise no substance! He got lucky against Bumrah on that day that's about it. Game of Cricket is teaching him nice & proper how tough it is out there. Cam is a real deal. Hope he stays injury free.'
It is a long fall from grace for Konstas after his stunning debut for Australia in last year's Boxing Day Test against India.
In that match he made a thrilling 60 off 65 balls, knocking around India's superstar bowler Jasprit Bumrah with a series of stunning ramp shots.
He then lost his place in the team, and his return to the Test XI hasn't gone to plan.
'Sam Konstas doesn't have a bright future in Test cricket. His days are numbered. The depth in the Australian bench is bare at the moment, no one is looking world class. I don't think I have ever seen such a weak Aussie batting line-up,' one fan said.
And another: 'Sam Konstas is not Australia's future ... poor technique.'
While another suggested how to fix the technique.
'Sam Konstas needs to - relax his top elbow and - move the feet,big step forward - cant play off back foot?? Step back and across,' they said.
Green — who earlier survived a lucky LBW review — didn't fare much better and was caught in the slips for 15 after swiping at a wide delivery from Justin Greaves.
Earlier, the West Indies were again left unimpressed by two controversial dismissals of their key batters, captain Roston Chase and white-ball skipper Shai Hope on Thursday (Friday AEST), which may have tipped the game in Australia's favour.
The two captains had proved the visitors' biggest obstacle as they put on 67 for the sixth wicket and didn't look in any great trouble as the Windies threatened to take a decent first-innings advantage, going to lunch at 5-135.
But Chase looked hugely frustrated early in the afternoon session when he was given out lbw to Pat Cummins, convinced that he'd got an inside edge before the ball thudded into the pads.
The Ultraedge review gave no clear evidence one way or another, and the disgruntled captain had to depart for 44 off 108 balls.
Hope, back in his first Test for more than four years, had moved fairly trouble-free on to 48 off 91 balls when his inside edge off Beau Webster produced a brilliant one-handed diving catch from Alex Carey, only for the review to show that the ball may have touched the ground as the keeper thumped against the turf.
The third umpire, though, gave Carey the benefit of the doubt.
With their two key men gone, the West Indies were left simply hoping to battle their way to any first-innings lead, however slender, and paceman Alzarri Joseph did his bit to get them there, smacking an unbeaten 23 off 20 balls to put them marginally ahead.
But after they had only managed to grab a single wicket in the morning - Brandon King (26) shouldering arms and getting bowled by Josh Hazlewood - Australia gleaned five wickets fell in the second session for just 55 with Webster proving impressive in his six overs, finding pace, movement and bounce as he took 2-20.
The familiar triumvirate of Mitchell Starc (3-65), Hazlewood (2-34) and Cummins (2-34) all chipped in, while Nathan Lyon grabbed the final wicket of the innings, tempting Jayden Seales to slog one straight down Webster's throat in the deep.
