(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Seales and Joseph Shine as West Indies Bowl Out Australia for 180 on Opening Day of First Test
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS: West Indies pacers Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph delivered a spectacular performance on Day 1 of the first Test match against Australia at Kensington Oval, dismissing the visitors for just 180 runs.
Seales starred with a five-wicket haul, while Joseph’s fiery early spell rocked Australia’s top order, reducing them to 22 for 3 on a lively surface.
🔥 Early Breakthroughs Set the Tone
Shamar Joseph was instrumental in disrupting the Australian innings from the outset. The young pacer struck early, dismissing teenage debutant Sam Konstas leg-before-wicket after a successful review. He followed it up with a brilliant delivery that saw Cameron Green edge one to second slip.
Seales then joined in, removing Josh Inglis for just 5 runs with a delivery that caught the edge. The visitors, already struggling with key absences such as Steve Smith (injury) and Marnus Labuschagne (dropped), were left reeling under West Indies’ relentless pressure.
🏏 Middle Order Fails to Stabilize
A brief resistance came in the form of an 89-run partnership between Usman Khawaja (47) and Travis Head (59). But Joseph returned to break the stand, dismissing Khawaja just shy of a well-deserved half-century. Head also fell later to Justin Greaves, caught behind after adding some crucial runs.
Lower-order contributions were minimal, with Beau Webster (11) and Alex Carey (8) failing to make an impact. Captain Pat Cummins top-scored in the tail with a gritty 28, but Seales soon cleaned up the remaining wickets to complete his five-wicket haul.
🎙️ Post-Match Reflections
Speaking after the day’s play, Seales said:
“This one was pretty special for me. To play against Australia and get five wickets on Day 1 felt amazing. We knew the plan — bowl full, tight lines, and make them play.”
He praised teammate Joseph, saying:
“Shamar was special today. He really put pressure on the top order and made it easier for us.”
⚔️ Australia Fight Back Late in the Day
In response, Australia’s bowlers mounted a late challenge, with Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood picking up four quick wickets. At stumps, West Indies were 57 for 4, trailing by 123 runs, keeping the contest finely balanced after an intense opening day.
The series opener in Barbados has already delivered excitement, with both sides showing glimpses of brilliance. With plenty of cricket left to play, fans can expect more dramatic shifts in momentum in the days ahead.
