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Australian top order wobbles once more against West Indies quicks / Photo: © AFP
Australian top order wobbles once more against West Indies quicks
Australia's top-order batting was again exposed by the West Indies fast bowlers as the tourists lost four wickets for 93 on the opening morning of the second Test on Thursday in Grenada.
Alzarri Joseph claimed two wickets, including Steve Smith, as the tourists, who made poor starts in both innings of the first Test, lost three wickets for three runs midway through the session after captain Pat Cummins opted to bat first.
Following a promising opening stand of 47 the two openers fell within three deliveries.
Usman Khawaja was trapped leg-before by Joseph. Sam Konstas drove at Anderson Phillip, playing his first Test for 18 months, to offer wicketkeeper Shai Hope a straightforward catch.
Smith, who missed the first Test while recovering from the finger injury sustained in the World Test Championship Final at Lord's three weeks earlier, promptly miscued a pull at Joseph which was held by Phillip inches from the long-leg boundary.
Travis Head, "Man of the Match" in Australia's 159-run win in Barbados the previous week, then joined Cameron Green. The pair had taken Australia almost to lunch when Green fell for 26 to Jayden Seales via a catch at gully by West Indies captain Roston Chase.
Head was unbeaten on 17 at the break.
Both teams had made one change from the first Test.
Phillip replaced left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican for West Indies. Smith came in at the expense of Josh Inglis.
Former West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite is playing his 100th Test match, the tenth West Indian to reach that landmark.
This is also the 99th Test for Australian left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who is nine away from 400 Test wickets.
G. Souza--JDB
