As Australia’s sole First Nations (male) Test cricketer at the present time, Boland has had a rough time of it. His appearances are few and far between. In any other era he would have been picked far more often; but when Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood are ahead of you in the queue, it is a matter of They Also Serve Who Only Stand And Wait; until one is injured or resting, or – in this case – Lyon’s spin is judged surplus to requirements. Boland never complains. When his chance arrives, he applies himself to the task, and delivers. He is 36 years old, and has a bowling average well under 20. His strike rate is under 40.
Not that his performance was flawless. There was a minor outbreak of front-foot no-balls. That aside, he trundled in, seamed the ball both ways, varied his pace skilfully, and was perennially at the striker. He took the honours last night with 3/34. His first scalp was John Campbell, who alone of the home batsmen had combined resolute defence with aggressive stroke-play. Yet for inscrutable reasons the no.4 offered his pad when bat would have been more appropriate.
Australia’s five-man seam attack shared the wickets. For the West Indies, none aside from Campbell and the captain showed any disposition to fight it out. Mykyle Louis will not want to see the replay of his wild, ineffectual hoick which missed the ball by the width of a barn door. For the visitors, their bowlers were relentless. The fielding was mostly excellent: Konstas’ run-out of Greaves being a highlight. The most glaring error was when Greaves edged Starc straight to first slip. Carey launched himself in front of Khawaja and spilled the catch. But in the event it did not signify.
With a priceless lead of 82 on this difficult wicket, what would Australia do in the evening session. Surely not a repeat of yesterday’s kamikaze session? As it turned out, yes: it was to be just that. The Josephs came out breathing fire and brimstone, inducing a timid prod to gully from the hapless Konstas, opening a chasm between bat and pad from Khawaja, and a similar breach in Smith’s defences. At 3/28 it was down to Head and Green to steady the innings. The latter made two attempts to run himmself out, but failed on both occasions. Head meanwhile made a quick 16 before being taken in low down slips off Greaves. Four down? Time to defend? Webster off-drove his first ball to the boundary.
Webster then fell to Alzarri’s Cummins Special: the leg-cutter delivered from wide on the crease. Carey’s first ball took him in the helmet. He essayed a wild slog at the next but one and edged to slip. Meanwhile Green had recovered his composure. He and Cummins managed to hold out until stumps, though the latter is fortunate is have survived. Early on he gloved Alzarri to the keeper, but the appeal was half-hearted, and they failed to review it. Then Green did his best to run his partner out, again missing narrowly. Cummins edged the day’s final delivery just in front of the diving short leg.
At 6/99 Australia has a slight advantage, and for that they can thank Green, who kept his head – aside from alarums and excursions running between wickets – when all about had lost theirs. His unbeaten 42 has been worth a century under more normal circumstances. The Caribbean bowlers were outstanding: none more so than Alzarri Joseph. His 3/19 is no more, and perhaps less, than his due. This is a spiteful wicket, but run-scoring is still possible, as Green has shown. His promotion to no.3 has been the subject of scepticism; but the coach was adamant that this was the right choice. McDonald’s judgement has been vindicated.