Australia Stumble as West Indies Seize Momentum in Pink-Ball Thriller
It’s been a rollercoaster of a start to the third Test in Kingston, and things are suddenly looking shaky for Australia. Coming into this match with the Frank Worrell Trophy already secured after dominant wins in Barbados and Grenada, the Aussies were eyeing a clean sweep. But what unfolded on day one at Sabina Park wasn’t the script they had hoped to follow.
Winning the toss, Pat Cummins chose to bat first under the lights, backing his team in conditions where they usually thrive with the pink ball. The big headline before a ball was bowled? Nathan Lyon—Australia’s most reliable off-spinner over the last decade—was dropped. Instead, the selectors went with four quicks, bringing in Scott Boland alongside Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood. It was a bold move, but with the pitch looking green and the Dukes pink ball in play, they were betting big on pace.
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But the concerns that have been simmering all series came to a head early—namely, the form of the Aussie openers. Youngster Sam Konstas, who’s still trying to find his feet at the top level, managed just 17 runs before falling yet again to his glaring weakness—LBW to the angle coming into his pads. And Khawaja, the experienced head meant to guide the innings, laboured through 92 balls for just 23 before edging behind to a sharp catch from Shai Hope.
The top order once again crumbled, with Australia slumping to 225 all out in what felt like a blink. A brief recovery from Green (46) and Smith (48) gave some hope, but once Seales, Joseph, and Greaves got into the lower order, it was carnage. Carey played a few flashy shots, Cummins launched a couple into the stands, but ultimately it was a collapse—seven wickets for 68 runs in under 15 overs. Brutal.
There was drama off the field too. West Indies had their share of injury concerns with both their regular openers—Mikyle Louis and John Campbell—sidelined temporarily, forcing makeshift pairings to take guard. Still, despite their own challenges, they held Australia to a modest total and closed the day at 16-1.
And here’s the kicker: with Lyon out, Australia lose the variety a spinner provides—especially crucial if the pitch starts to break up. It’s a gamble that may yet pay off, but only if the pacers do the damage quickly.
So now, pressure builds. Not just on Konstas and Khawaja to prove they deserve their spots, but on Australia’s seam-heavy strategy to deliver under the lights. For a side that came to Jamaica looking for a whitewash, the pink-ball Test has quickly turned into a real test of resilience.
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