Darren Sammy was far from impressed up in the coaches’ box, but all we can say is that yes: the close calls on review mostly favoured Australia; and yes: the decisions made were the correct ones. Sammy’s frustrations cannot have been eased when Konstas was dropped twice in the slips from the luckless Shamarr Joseph. It was an untidy day’s play from all save the seam quartets of both sides, who performed marvellously on a pitch which offered them plenty. Batting was far from easy. The new ball swung alarmingly, and there was seam movement in abundance. Several batsmen lost their off-stump to ill-advised leaves, notably King and Inglis.
The point about batting on a dubious wicket against hostile seam bowling is that you have to be looking for runs even if you aren’t actually scoring. And it is under these conditions that technical flaws are horribly exposed. Cameron Green will not enjoy the footage of him waving a diagonal bat well outside his body. At least he did use his feet on ocasion today. And the home side’s theory about Sam Konstas’ vulnerability to fullish off-cutters was vindicated. Konstas’ problem is that his strokeplay is actually quite limited. His 38-ball five was excruciating to watch as the Caribbean seamers worked him over.
Earlier the Australians did their level best to wrap up the home side quickly. Chase and Hope made them wait in a commendable sixth wicket stand of 67. They were watchful, yet took every run on offer. When Lyon was thrown the ball the Windies chanced their arms and plundered 28 off his five overs. It may yet be a pitch that takes spin, but that day was not this day. Webster was introduced belatedly – a rare occasion when Cummins missed a trick – and his immense height and seam movement proved too much for Hope and Greaves, who both edged behind to Carey. Starc, Hazelwood and Cummins shared the rest of the wickets until Lyon – brought back to remove Seales at the end – brought the innings to a close. It was an imprudent swipe from the no.11, since he had Alzarri Joseph at the other end unbeaten on a rapid-fire 23; but really: the last man in is usually allowed some leeway for rushes of blood to the brain.
Thanks to the matchless seam attack from Australia the home side’s lead was restricted to just ten runs. But the Josephs, Seales and Greaves came out breathing fire and brimstone, and the visiting batsmen had no answers. A good eye and a dubious technique may work on a flat pitch; but it will not pass muster hereabouts. Head and Webster survived until stumps. Their stand of 27 included 19 runs from the towering number six. He has faced a mere 24 deliveries, and used his Brobdignagian height to pummel the rare loose deliveries into the middle distance. Much depends on these two tomorrow.
The day finished with Australia once more hanging on by their fingernails. It has been an all too familiar tale of late. Despite moaning from the peanut gallery about Australia’s veteran bowlers, it is they who are currently holding this team’s collective head above the waves. Of the younger brigade only Webster has shone in this match. The rest appear to be in urgent need of remedial coaching.