Pat Cummins called a surprise end to Australia’s innings while trailing to end an action-packed effort with the bat against West Indies.
A chaotic day ended with West Indies effectively 35-1 in their second innings, having begun with them batting in their first. Kevin Sinclair made his way to a Test half-century on debut, having remained not out the night before.
His wicket was the last to fall before the Australians came into bat. Veteran bowler Kemar Roach did a good job supporting Sinclair to his fifty before falling to a comical run out.
The fun continued in the first over of Australia’s reply. Steve Smith fell to the sixth ball of the innings, shuffling way across his stumps, missing a straight ball and falling lbw. Smith’s start to life as an opener has not gone as planned; he’s yet to post a significant score with totals of 12, 11* and 6 across his first three Test innings filling David Warner’s former position.
Marnus Labuschagne followed just five balls later, nicking Alzarri Joseph to Sinclair at fourth slip. The No.3 is also struggling and since his match saving hundred at Old Trafford last summer he has only reached 20 three times in 11 innings.
The session ended after five overs of Australia’s innings, but not before Kemar Roach could take two Aussie wickets in two balls.
The wickets came from moments of poor batting from the Australian middle order as Cameron Green chipped one to mid-off, giving Kraigg Brathwaite a regulation catch before Travis Head, chased a loose delivery down the leg side. Joshua Da Silva took a diving catch to his right, leaving the home side 24-4 at the Dinner break.
Heading into the Brisbane evening, Mitchell Marsh showed intent, hitting 21 runs off 20 balls before losing his wicket to a well executed short ball from Alzarri Joseph.
The viral clip of the day was made courtesy of a Shamar Joseph screamer of a ball that was literally too perfect. The young pace bowler managed to skim the bail on top of the off stump, spinning it in its groove but not displacing it, much to the joy of counter-attacking Alex Carey.
The wicketkeeper reached his half-century in 38 balls before eventually finding a fielder with another boundary-searching swing. His knock was crucial and he shared a partnership of 96 runs off 98 balls with the immovable Usman Khawaja.
Tea was called as Mitchell Starc, who survived a few scares, edged one to Da Silva taking his second catch of the innings.
Pat Cummins arrived at the crease after the break and produced a captain’s innings, getting his half century and putting on an 81-run partnership with Khawaja before the opener finally fell to the off spin of debutant Sinclair.
It was his first wicket in Tests and he celebrated by producing a cartwheel on field, much to the joy of the Australian crowd.
The Australian captain remained at the crease with Nathan Lyon until he declared while still trailing by 22 to put the West Indian batters under pressure late in the day.
The decision paid off with Josh Hazelwood having Tagenarine Chanderpaul feather one through to the keeper. The decision was initially not given by the umpire but the Aussies reviewed and DRS found the faintest of edges causing one final twist at the end of a topsy-turvy day.
