Expectations were high for the West Indies to begin the new ICC World Test Championship cycle with a strong showing on home soil, but by mid-afternoon on day three, those hopes had evaporated as the Caribbean side slumped to a crushing 159-run defeat to Australia in the opening Test at Kensington Oval on Friday.
Despite another spirited display with the ball, highlighted by Shamar Joseph’s third Test five-wicket haul, it was the familiar frailties with the bat that sealed the West Indies’ fate, with the 25-year-old fast bowler ironically emerging as the team’s top scorer in a dramatic collapse.
Joseph, who bowled with his usual fire, finished with 5-87 from 25.5 overs and later returned to belt a breezy 44 from just 22 balls, as he smacked four fours and four sixes in a lone act of resistance. His efforts gave fans a fleeting moment of joy, but they came too late to undo the damage inflicted by yet another top-order implosion.
Scores: Australia 180 & 310; West Indies 190 & 141
Set a daunting 301 for victory, the West Indies folded for 141 in 34 overs, with only Justin Greaves, who was unbeaten on 38, along with Joseph, John Campbell (23), and Keacy Carty (20), the only batsmen to pass 20. The hosts lost wickets in clusters and fell to 49-4, then 73-7, as Josh Hazlewood’s incisive 5-43 ripped the heart out of the innings. Australia’s relentless pressure and tight fielding never allowed the West Indies to build any meaningful momentum.
While defeat was bitter, Joseph’s all-round performance included the scalps of Travis Head, who made 61, and Beau Webster (63), who took their overnight partnership to 102, as the visitors added 218 to their overnight 92-4. Joseph’s spell also saw him wrap up the Australian innings with the scalps of Mitchell Starc (16) and Josh Hazlewood (12) to go with Sam Konstas' wicket from day two.
Alex Carey, with a brisk 75-ball 65, picked up where Head and Webster left off, but Joseph’s breakthroughs ensured the target remained within theoretical reach. Alzarri Joseph (2-65) was the next best figure among the Caribbean bowlers.
The second-innings failures of experienced men like Kraigg Brathwaite (four), Shai Hope (two), and Brandon King (zero) reignited concerns about the West Indies’ brittle batting. Once again, the lineup failed to string together partnerships under pressure. In fact, the 55-run ninth-wicket stand between Greaves and Joseph was the only partnership of note.
The first four wickets fell within 13 overs, and by the time Joseph entered at number 10, the result was all but sealed. His fireworks only delayed the inevitable, as Nathan Lyon (2-20) and Pat Cummins (1-15) wrapped things up swiftly.
The defeat puts Australia 1-0 up in the three-match series and leaves the West Indies facing a short turnaround to regroup ahead of the second Test on next Thursday.