Joshua Da Silva and Kavem Hodge put on a rousing partnership, ended one run short of 150, to rescue West Indies from 64-5 and keep them fighting in the second Test against Australia.
Brisbane’s day/night Test started exactly how the local crowd would have wanted it to thanks to an early flurry of Aussie wickets. West Indies captain and opener Kraigg Brathwaite continued his passage of poor form, making four off 25 balls, before Josh Hazelwood had him nicking off into Alex Carey’s gloves.
The captain’s dismissal was the beginning of a top-order slide for the side already 1-0 down in the series, losing four more wickets before the end of the first session and heading into the first break 64-5.
It wasn’t until wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva and 30-year-old all-rounder Kavem Hodge came to the crease that things started to turn around for the Windies. Their pairing came at a crucial point in proceedings when their team looked sure to fall to a below-par total, but their valiant effort, spanning 52 overs including the entirety of the second session, changed the complexion of the game.
Putting on 149 runs, their partnership produced the most runs by a West Indian sixth-wicket pair in Australia for 40 years, since Clive Lloyd and Richie Richardson put on 152 runs, also in Brisbane, in a series won by the visitors 3-1.
64-5 ➡️ 266-8
An excellent recovery from West Indies' middle and lower order on the opening day in Brisbane, led by Kavem Hodge and Joshua Da Silva 🏝️#AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/q2989rdns4
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 25, 2024
It also is the highest partnership made by a visiting team since Joe Root and Dawid Malan’s 162-run third-wicket stand in the first Test of the 2021/22 Ashes.
In amongst the wickets was pink-ball wizard Mitchell Starc, who took four West Indies scalps reaching a career milestone of 350 Test wickets. He also took the wicket of Hodge, getting him caught behind by Steve Smith, who has taken ten catches this series.
The day ended with a cameo from Alzarri Joseph who hit a T20-style 32 off 22 balls before nicking one to the Australia slip cordon. Debutant Kevin Sinclair ended the day on 16 after a careful appearance at the back of the West Indies innings, though one studded with a spectacular straight drive.
The impressive bowling performance in the first Test by the Windies attack, bowling the Australians out for 283, will give the tourists hope that their total can be a competitive one.
