Steven Smith and Cameron Green had done well to soak up the early pressure. But just before the tea break, Jayden Seales broke the partnership by removing Green. Right after the interval, Shamar Joseph sent back Smith. From there, Australia couldn’t recover. Once again, they folded for a modest total.
In their mission to avoid a whitewash in the pink-ball Test at Jamaica, West Indies also found themselves under pressure by the end of Day 1.
At stumps on the opening day at Sabina Park, Australia lead by 209 runs. After bowling the visitors out for 225, West Indies closed the day at 16 for 1. Mitchell Starc, playing his 100th Test, claimed the lone wicket.
Despite no interruptions due to rain or poor light, only 79.3 overs were bowled throughout the day.
As in the previous two Tests, pacers dominated proceedings in the final match of the series as well. All ten Australian wickets were shared between West Indies’ pace trio—Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales, and debutant Justin Greaves.
Australia went in without Nathan Lyon, opting for a pace-heavy lineup under floodlights. Barring injuries, this is the first time since 2013 that the legendary off-spinner has been left out of a playing XI.
West Indies, on the other hand, dropped veteran opener Kraigg Brathwaite, who had reached 100 Tests in the last match. He managed just two fifties in his previous 20 innings.
Winning the toss and choosing to bat with the intention of making the most of daylight, Pat Cummins sent in openers Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja cautiously against the pink ball.
Sam Konstas, however, had a lucky escape in the fifth over when debutant Kavem Hodge dropped him at third slip off Seales. The openers survived the first hour but failed to score freely.
Just after the drinks break, Konstas was dismissed by Greaves on his very first ball. The young opener departed for 17 off 53 balls. Australia went to lunch at 50 for 1 in 25 overs.
In the second session, Khawaja didn’t last long. Shamar Joseph removed him for 23 off 92 balls, thanks to a sharp catch behind the stumps by Shai Hope.
Smith and Green then shifted gears, adding 61 runs off 106 balls. But before the partnership could do more damage, Seales bowled a beauty to dismiss Green for 46.
Having lost three wickets in the first two sessions, Australia began the final stretch of the day in a decent position—until the collapse began.
Smith, who looked set for a fifty, fell two runs short after edging Shamar to slip. His dismissal triggered a dramatic downfall, with Australia losing 7 wickets for just 68 runs.
None of the lower-order batters could withstand the Caribbean pace attack.
Travis Head, who looked solid initially, was undone by a stunning catch from substitute fielder Anderson Phillip—who sprinted to his right from mid-off and pulled off a full-stretch dive.
The tail didn’t last long either. Seales, Shamar, and Greaves wrapped things up efficiently.
Shamar Joseph led the charge with 4 wickets, while Seales and Greaves took 3 each.
During the fielding innings, West Indies lost both regular openers—John Campbell and Mikyle Louis—to injuries. As a result, Brandon King and debutant Kavem Hodge opened the batting.
Unfortunately, Hodge—who had dropped a catch earlier in the day—had a disappointing end too. He was bowled by Starc after the ball took the inside edge.
King and Roston Chase ensured no further damage as stumps were drawn.
Day 1 Summary
Australia 1st Innings: 225 all out in 70.3 overs
Khawaja 23, Konstas 17, Green 46, Smith 48, Head 20, Carey 21, Cummins 24
Seales 3/59, Shamar 4/33, Greaves 3/56
West Indies 1st Innings: 16/1 in 9 overs
King 8*, Hodge 3, Chase 3*
Starc 1/3
