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United News of India
2 hours ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Cummins hails match-winners as Australia registers easy win over Windies
Bridgetown (Barbados), June 28 (UNI) In a match that ebbed and flowed, it was Australia who emerged victorious against West Indies in the opening Test of the three-match series in Bridgetown. While the win may not erase the heartbreak of Lord's just two weeks ago, it marks a positive start to their World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, with their first points now on the board. There was little to separate the sides after the first two innings – just 10 runs, in fact. Jayden Seales' five-wicket haul helped bowl Australia out for 180, before a disciplined all-round effort from the Australian bowlers restricted West Indies to 190, giving the hosts a slender lead. Australia found themselves in trouble at 65/4 after another top-order collapse, but the middle-order trio of Travis Head, Beau Webster and Alex Carey steadied the ship with crucial half-centuries. Head and Webster put together a 102-run stand, with Head playing the aggressor. After Head's dismissal, Carey took charge, highlighted by two brilliant straight sixes off Seales and Justin Greaves. "I thought those three were brilliant," Australia skipper Pat Cummins said at the post-match press conference. "They kept the scoreboard ticking over. I thought they took really good options. They were always looking to score. 'Really, that was the difference. [You are] turning up today thinking that if we didn't get a big lead it was 50-50, really. Those guys took the game away from West Indies." Cummins was particularly impressed by Beau Webster, who, despite having played just five Tests, has already built a reputation for digging Australia out of tough spots with grit and composure on challenging surfaces. On debut against India, the 31-year-old made an instant impact, scoring a half-century on a spicy Sydney pitch in the first innings and following it up with a brisk unbeaten 39 in their victorious chase. In the World Test Championship Final against South Africa, Webster stood tall with a counter-attacking 72 off 92 balls, the top score in Australia's first-innings total of 212. Against West Indies, he once again proved pivotal, anchoring two key partnerships in the second innings with a composed 63 off 120 balls that turned the tide in Australia's favour. He also made an impact with the ball, claiming two wickets in the first innings. "I think it's pretty much the same as what he does for Tasmania," Cummins said on Webster. "He seems to always contribute in some way. He's kind of knocked down the door with his performances over the years in Shield cricket. It's great when you've got someone like that coming to the team. 'They know their craft so well and you saw that today, even on a tricky wicket, he knew where his areas to score were. He's been a fantastic asset to the team over the last six months." After setting West Indies a target of 301, Australia needed just one session and under 34 overs to seal the win, dismantling the hosts for 141. Leading the charge was the ever-reliable Josh Hazlewood, who delivered a brilliant five-wicket haul to cap off the dominant performance.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Hazlewood rips through West Indies as Australia take 1-0 series lead
A fourth day looked likely before Lyon went bang-bang to hand Australia a comprehensive victory. 'When Joshy got the two [wickets] in a row I thought we were half a chance. The wicket was just playing a lot of tricks,' Cummins said. 'I thought we'd make decent inroads today but didn't think we'd get 10. 'Give Joshy a wicket with any little bit in it and he finds it. He just hits the right area, ball after ball, and presents good seam. He was fantastic. I thought he was great at Lord's last week without perhaps the returns he deserves, so it's a huge asset to have on our side.' Mitchell Starc took the first wicket of Kraigg Brathwaite but Hazlewood was the chief destroyer, removing John Campbell (23) and Brandon King in consecutive balls before his hat-trick ball went through to wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Hazlewood then snared Roston Chase (2) and Keacy Carty (20) to edge Australia closer to victory. At one point in his spell, Hazlewood took 4-4 from 16 balls. Resuming on 4-92 with an 82-run lead, Australian duo Travis Head (61) and Beau Webster (63) knuckled down for a commanding 102-run partnership to take the game away from the West Indies. The West Indies' terrible fielding in this Test was on display once again when Head was dropped on 21 by Greaves at second slip early in the day. It was the home side's seventh dropped catch in the slips across the match. Head and Webster's partnership was the first fifth-wicket century stand by an Australian pair in Tests since Mitch Marsh and Steve Smith put on 153 against Pakistan in Melbourne in 2023. Webster continues to prosper at Test level and now has a very tidy return of 305 runs at 43.57 from eight innings. Head, who was named man of the match, was out lbw to Shamar Joseph before Webster was unlucky to be caught down the leg side to the same bowler, leaving Australia at 6-208. Carey pushed the game along by crunching a 40-ball half century, which included two big sixes down the ground. There was a period in the middle session when Australia smashed 68 from 46 balls. Australia's wicketkeeper eventually perished for 65 as Joseph finished with figures of 5-87 for the innings to help bowl the tourists out for 310. 'I thought those three were brilliant,' Cummins said. 'They kept the scoreboard ticking over. That was the difference. Those guys took the game away from the West Indies.' Loading Joseph, who appeared to be carrying some kind of injury, pushed through the pain to pick up nine wickets for the match (9-133) in an impressive display after his heroics at the Gabba early last year. The West Indies' highest successful run chase in Bridgetown came in 1999 when Brian Lara made an unbeaten 153 to steer his side to a target of 308 against Australia with one wicket in hand. On this occasion, they never got close. A day after West Indies coach Daren Sammy slammed the performance of match officials, the side's captain Roston Chase also expressed his displeasure. 'There were so many questionable calls in the game and none of them went our way,' Chase said. 'We had some questionable calls and that really set us back in terms of creating a big lead on the total that Australia set. 'It's frustrating because as players, when we mess up, when we get out of line, we are penalised harshly. Sometimes we're even banned. You're talking about guys' careers.'
Int'l Cricket Council
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Cummins hails match-winners as Australia get going in WTC27 ICC World Test Championship
In a match that ebbed and flowed, it was Australia who emerged victorious against West Indies in the opening Test of the three-match series in Bridgetown. While the win may not erase the heartbreak of Lord's just two weeks ago, it marks a positive start to their World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, with their first points now on the board. There was little to separate the sides after the first two innings – just 10 runs, in fact. Jayden Seales' five-wicket haul helped bowl Australia out for 180, before a disciplined all-round effort from the Australian bowlers restricted West Indies to 190, giving the hosts a slender lead. Australia found themselves in trouble at 65/4 after another top-order collapse, but the middle-order trio of Travis Head, Beau Webster and Alex Carey steadied the ship with crucial half-centuries. Head and Webster put together a 102-run stand, with Head playing the aggressor. After Head's dismissal, Carey took charge, highlighted by two brilliant straight sixes off Seales and Justin Greaves. "I thought those three were brilliant," Australia skipper Pat Cummins said at the post-match press conference. "They kept the scoreboard ticking over. I thought they took really good options. They were always looking to score. 'Really, that was the difference. [You are] turning up today thinking that if we didn't get a big lead it was 50-50, really. Those guys took the game away from West Indies." Cummins was particularly impressed by Beau Webster, who, despite having played just five Tests, has already built a reputation for digging Australia out of tough spots with grit and composure on challenging surfaces. On debut against India, the 31-year-old made an instant impact, scoring a half-century on a spicy Sydney pitch in the first innings and following it up with a brisk unbeaten 39 in their victorious chase. In the World Test Championship Final against South Africa, Webster stood tall with a counter-attacking 72 off 92 balls, the top score in Australia's first-innings total of 212. Against West Indies, he once again proved pivotal, anchoring two key partnerships in the second innings with a composed 63 off 120 balls that turned the tide in Australia's favour. He also made an impact with the ball, claiming two wickets in the first innings. Beau Webster helps Australia's cause with half-century | Player Highlights | WTC25 Final Beau Webster marked his first Lord's Test with a half century in the World Test Championship Final. "I think it's pretty much the same as what he does for Tasmania," Cummins said on Webster. "He seems to always contribute in some way. He's kind of knocked down the door with his performances over the years in Shield cricket. It's great when you've got someone like that coming to the team. 'They know their craft so well and you saw that today, even on a tricky wicket, he knew where his areas to score were. He's been a fantastic asset to the team over the last six months." After setting West Indies a target of 301, Australia needed just one session and under 34 overs to seal the win, dismantling the hosts for 141. Leading the charge was the ever-reliable Josh Hazlewood, who delivered a brilliant five-wicket haul to cap off the dominant performance. Hazlewood cleans up Stubbs with a jaffa | WTC25 Final Josh Hazlewood also got himself among the wickets by nipping one in to get rid of Tristan Stubbs. 'Give Josh a wicket with any little bit in it, and he finds it,' Cummins added on his pace bowling partner Hazlewood. 'Just hits the right area, ball after ball, presents good seam. I thought he was great at Lord's as well last week, without perhaps the returns that he was deserved. 'It's a huge asset to have him on our side as well. He's been keeping Scotty Boland out of the side and we know how good Scotty is. Really pumped for Josh this week.' The series now moves to St George's for the second Test, which gets underway on 3 July. ICC World Test ChampionshipNewsAustraliaWest Indies
United News of India
4 hours ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Australia seal victory inside three days
Bridgetown, June 28 (UNI) Australia registered a commanding 159-run victory over the West Indies in the first Test at Kensington Oval, wrapping up proceedings within three days. Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood delivered a devastating spell in the final session, claiming 5 for 43 to skittle the hosts for 141 in their second innings, chasing a target of 301. The match hung in the balance on the third morning with Australia leading by 82 runs, but a composed and enterprising middle-order effort from Travis Head (50), Beau Webster (63), and Alex Carey (65) helped Australia stretch their lead to 300 before they were bowled out for 310. Head, who posted twin fifties on a challenging surface, was named Player of the Match. The West Indies began their chase poorly as Mitchell Starc removed Kraigg Brathwaite in the first over. Hazlewood then dismantled the top and middle order with relentless accuracy and hostile short deliveries. John Campbell, who briefly threatened with some unorthodox shots, fell trying to scoop Hazlewood, while Brandon King and Roston Chase followed soon after, the latter gloving a rising ball to short leg. Captain Pat Cummins added to the damage by bowling Shai Hope with a delivery that skidded low, exposing the surface's demons. Despite late resistance from Shamar Joseph, who struck two sixes, the innings crumbled quickly. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon ended the match dramatically with two wickets in two balls in what was to be the day's final over. Earlier in the day, West Indies had again been their own worst enemies in the field, dropping multiple catches. Head was reprieved on 21, while Carey and Webster capitalized on missed chances to build Australia's defining second-innings total. Carey's aggressive 65 off just 49 balls ensured Australia had ample cushion despite a difficult pitch. Shamar Joseph was the standout for the West Indies, bowling tirelessly and taking 5 for 87 in Australia's second innings. However, the lack of support and poor fielding let the home side down in critical phases. The win gives Australia a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series and valuable points in the ICC World Test Championship standings. UNI BDN ARN
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
WI vs AUS: Travis Head creates World Test Championship record, becomes first player to ...
Australia's Travis Head (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan) Travis Head made history by becoming the first player to win 10 Man of the Match awards in the World Test Championship after his twin fifties helped Australia defeat West Indies by 159 runs in the first Test of their three-match series. Head scored 59 in the first innings and 61 in the second innings on a challenging pitch where both teams struggled to score runs. Australia were bowled out for 180 in their first innings before restricting West Indies to 190. The hosts then posted 310 in their second innings before dismissing West Indies for 141 to secure the victory and take a 1-0 lead in the series. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Head's crucial knocks came at critical junctures for Australia. His first innings half-century helped Australia reach a fighting total, while his second innings contribution helped the team recover from a precarious position of 61-4. The Australian middle order provided vital support after Head's dismissal. Beau Webster scored 63 and Alex Carey made 65 to help Australia build a match-winning lead. India Sweat it out at the Nets in Birmingham Ahead of the 2nd Test vs England Head's achievement of 10 Man of the Match awards in the World Test Championship puts him well ahead of his closest competitors. Ben Stokes and Joe Root have won five awards each, while Harry Brook has four to his name. The left-handed batter has been a consistent performer in the World Test Championship. He is Australia's fourth-highest run-scorer in the competition with 3199 runs in 50 games, including eight centuries and 15 fifties, behind Steve Smith , Marnus Labuschagne, and Usman Khawaja. Head also reached another milestone by becoming the fourth batter to hit 400 fours in the World Test Championship. He achieved this feat in 83 innings, joining an elite group including Joe Root (576 fours in 119 innings), Marnus Labuschagne (476 fours in 96 innings), and Steve Smith (443 fours in 91 innings). Quiz: Who's that IPL player? "I would have liked to score a bit more, missed out on a few runs. The communication was important, the conditions were tricky and we did exceptionally well to get to 300 on that surface. I was more positive on Day 1 when the game was up for the taking, last night I was desperate to end the day unbeaten, momentum was the key over here, we wanted to build a partnership, we were slow, but it worked out well (on his stand with Beau Webster)," Head said at the post-match presentation. Head praised his batting partner Webster's contribution: "He has played a great deal of FC cricket, has got experience in all conditions and situations. You tend to do well then and he took the responsibility." The Australian batter expressed his disappointment about his performance in the World Test Championship final but was pleased to contribute to the team's victory against West Indies. "I try to contribute every time I go out there, was disappointed at not making runs at Lords (in the WTC final) despite my good form, was nice to get runs and contribute to the team victory here," Head added. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
