The West Indies openers began in brilliant sunshine. Brathwaite’s 100th Test match has not thus far been a happy one, since he spooned a meek return catch to Hazlewood. Carty fell to Cummins in a like manner, although Cummins’ twenty-yard sprint to receive delivery at forward short leg was an athletic highlight from the Australian skipper. John Campbell however batted brightly, unperturbed by the occasion. When Hazlewood pitched fractionally short the phlegmatic opener lifted him over the square boundary. On 40 he essayed an awful swipe from Webster and departed in a medium-rare dudgeon. It had been an unworthy end to an innings of bright promise.
Brandon King had experienced all the terrors of multiple stage fright in Barbados. It was all the more commendable to see him dig in here, and with his captain he steered the home side to lunch at a comparatively comfortable 3/110. With the pitch thus far displaying few terrors, Australia needed a lift. Hazelwood supplied it directly after lunch, trapping Chase in front for 16. It was a narrow squeak on review. Another bail width higher and the result would have been Umpire’s Call. On seeing humans playing with a ball, an optimistic black dog attempted to join in the festivities. Finding no encouragement, however, it removed itself beyond the long-off boundary and spectated instead.
King brought up his 50 with a wild slash over gully from Starc. A man who had so thoroughly embarrassed himself on debut could feel considerable pride at his resilience. Twice he lofted Lyon over the ropes, and alarm bells begin to toll in the middle distance for the visitors. Inevitably it was the captain who broke through Hope’s resistance. It was Cummins’ specialty: an off-cutter delivered from wide on the return crease. Worse was to follow as Lyon induced a faint glove from King, who was dismissed on review for an excellent 75. Praise is also due to Cummins for not removing his spinner after his first six overs went for 30. Many a captain would have; but Cummins knows the value of buying wickets with spin.
When Greaves departed, having edged Lyon’s away-drifter to Carey, the end seemed nigh at 7/175. Yet the Josephs had other ideas. They defended stoutly. They lofted the ball just out of reach of scurrying outfielders. And they clubbed four sixes in their stand of 51 until Lyon’s subtle change of length induced a drive to long-on from Alzarri. Starc then skittled Shamarr with his away-cutter via the batsman’s pads. Even then West Indies were not done. After Seales’ meek dismissals in Barbados he defended his wicket mightily. The last pair lasted another eleven overs until Head concluded the innings with his notorious golden arm, when Phillip offered him the innings’ third return catch. The visitors’ lead had dwindled away to a mere 33. Australia had bowled well on a helpful wicket. All six bowlers shared the spoils. Yet West Indies had fought well: notably Brandon King, whose 75 has been the game’s high-water mark thus far.
With the match poised on a knife-edge it remained to be seen if Australia’s drastically underperforming batsmen could gain the ascendancy. Alas, they could not. In a fiery three-over burst Seales blasted away both openers. The man it seems cannot help taking wickets. Partly because he bowls an attacking length and swings the ball around, but also because of errors in batsmanship. Konstas’ waft outside off with a diagonal bat was dreadful to behold. Green’s first ball roared up at him like a venomous reptile, and the giant no.3 was fortunate indeed that his edge fell just short of slip. Then Khawaja fell leg before in an action replay of his first innings disaster. Green and Lyon hung on until stumps. But at 2/12 Australia is markedly behind the match. As in Barbados, it is now incumbent upon the middle order to dig them out of a substantial crater.