That’ll all for tonight. We’ll be back tomorrow for the completion of a comfortable/nervous runchase. Look, it’s okay: it’ll never be as scary as Adelaide 1993. But you might want to have a stress ball handy just in case.
Updated
That was a pretty solid day for Australia in the circumstances. West Indies were well set at 123 for three and 148 for four, but only Kirk McKenzie – who top scored with 41 from 50 balls – was able to score freely. The innings ground to a halt after tea, when West Indies seemed to have both eyes on the clock rather than the scoreboard.
Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon took three wickets apiece, while Travis Head turned the innings with a brilliant run-out of Kavem Hodge. Mitchell Starc also put Shamar Joseph out of action with a toe-crushing yorker.
That was significant because it meant West Indies were down to three seamers. Australia lost Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne early on, but Steve Smith batted serenely and Cameron Green enjoyed fifty shades of fortune. He was still there at the close; the rest is gossip.
STUMPS: We are set up beautifully for tomorrow! Australia need 156 more runs, West Indies eight wickets #AUSvWI
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 27, 2024
Updated
Stumps
19th over: Australia 60-2 (Smith 33, Green 9) A quiet last over from Greaves, with no alarms for Green. He’ll be back in the morning – and so, most importantly for Australia, will Steve Smith. He batted with his middle-order authority to reach 33 not out and ensure Australia won’t be too worried despite the loss of Khawaja and Labuschagne. They need another 156 to win.
18th over: Australia 58-2 (Smith 32, Green 8) This might be the last over of the day, although Roach should really be getting a move on between deliveries to ensure it isn’t. The non-striker Smith tries to do Green a solid by taking a quick single to mid-on, but it’s too risky and Green sends him back.
Green offers no stroke to one that just misses off stump. Roach goes down on his haunches and then walks very slowly back to his mark. Get a wriggle on! Green is hit on the pad – missing leg – and then takes a single into the off side. He’ll hope that’s the last ball he faces today.
It won’t – there’s time for one more over.
Updated
17th over: Australia 57-2 (Smith 32, Green 7) An outstanding over from Greaves ends with Green edging short of second slip. To say he’s hanging on would be an understatement.
Green is not out! Yep, too high. That was a poor review. Lovely piece of bowling though.
West Indies lose a review - Cameron Green lives on #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/lf1Eb0WFok
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 27, 2024
Updated
West Indies review for LBW against Green!
The loss of Shamar Joseph has hurt West Indies, with first Alzarri Joseph and now Greaves having to bowl six-over spells on a very warm evening.
Greaves still has enough in the tank to beat Green with consecutive deliveries. Both were beauties, full of length and straightening off the seam to beat a stiff defensive push.
The next ball thuds into the pad and leads to a huge LBW appeal. Too high, I suspect, but West Indies have gone upstairs.
Updated
16th over: Australia 54-2 (Smith 31, Green 6) West Indies are again looking a bit flat, and Roach doesn’t even bother with a token appeal for LBW when Smith pads up outside off stump. It was missing off by a long way so maybe he’s just a good sportsman.
Roach is muchs more demonstrative when Green offers no stroke to a ball that bounces over off stump, then defends unconvincingly while again trying to leave.
15th over: Australia 52-2 (Smith 30, Green 5) Smith drives Greaves through extra cover for two to move into the thirties. He looks ominously secure, not just for West Indies but the rest of world cricket. If he cracks this new role, and that remains a big if, he will inflict untold misery on bowlers for the next few years.
14th over: Australia 50-2 (Smith 28, Green 5) Joseph has a breather, with Roach replacing him. Smith pulls a single to bring up the Australian fifty. He has lined it up very well so far; all the TV commentators agree that he is moving around a lot less at the crease.
Twenty minutes to go, so probably four or five overes. Australia need 166 to win.
13th over: Australia 48-2 (Smith 27, Green 4) Green defends a yorker from Greaves, timing it well enough to get a single down the ground. Not a great over from Greaves.
“The woes of Marn, apart from sounding like the sort of Saul Bellow novel I hoped people saw me carrying around in university, are now more than a few paragraphs long,” writes Eamonn Maloney. “No apparent technical fault, he just looks like he isn’t seeing it. Perhaps looks worse than it is because of how easy he used to make it look. Well yes…three sixties and an average of 28 for the summer. One man’s trot is another man’s…adequacy.”
This is now statistically his worst season since 2018-19, when he wasn’t really Marnus at all. He’ll be fine in the medium term, though New Zealand away isn’t the best tour for somebody with off-stump-whereabouts issues.
12th over: Australia 46-2 (Smith 27, Green 3) Green is in a poor run of form, with no fifties for Australia in any format since March. A leading edge off Joseph plops safely on the off side, and then a thick inside edge runs away for a single. Joseph has bowled a very good spell of 6-1-19-1; he might try to bowl through at this end, though that would mean least nine overs in a row.
“Good morning Rob,” writes Bill Hargreaves. “This match is looking a snorter.”
I still think Australia are relatively comfortable, but one more tonight – especially Smith – would cause some cat/pigeon interaction.
11th over: Australia 44-2 (Smith 26, Green 2) Another wicket would make life very interesting, and Greaves has a strangled shout against the new batter Green.
WICKET! Australia 42-2 (Labuschagne c Sinclair b Greaves 5)
That’s where to bowl! Greaves turns Labuschagne round with a delivery that seams and bounces just enough, and the edge is smartly taken by Sinclair at second slip.
Actually it was a fine catch, two-handed as he swooped to his right, and he struck another pose in celebration. Labuschagne ends a miserable series with 19 runs at an average of 6.33.
Sinclair catches Labuschagne for the second time in the match! #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/eSetudELwp
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 27, 2024
Updated
10th over: Australia 40-1 (Smith 26, Labuschagne 3) A sharp inswinger from Joseph is defended solidly by Labuschagne. For a micro-second I thought it was through him but actually he played it well, and he gets off the mark by clipping the next delivery for three.
Smith top-edges a pull that lands short of deep backward square. It was a no-ball anyway,
9th over: Australia 34-1 (Smith 24, Labuschagne 0) Another rancid half-tracker from Greaves is carted over square leg for four by Smith. “You can’t bowl short at that pace,” spits Mark Waugh in the commentary box.
Greaves is struggling to control both line and length, never a great combination for a bowler. When he does land one in the right spot, Smith is turned round and thick edges short of gully. There’s still a bit in this for the West Indies, but they need at least two more wickets tonight.
8th over: Australia 30-1 (Smith 20, Labuschagne 0) Oof. Labuschagne leaves a ball from Joseph that bounces just over off stump. He looks nervous, understandably after a tricky series in which he’s scored only 14 runs, and is playing at as little as possible. A maiden.
7th over: Australia 30-1 (Smith 20, Labuschagne 0) With Shamar Joseph off the field, Justin Greaves comes on for first change. His second ball is a stinker, short and pulled emphatically for four by Smith. That’s Smith fourth boundary; he’s looking good and is into the twenties for the first time as an opener. Just under an hour’s play remaining tonight.
6th over: Australia 24-1 (Smith 13, Labuschagne 0) Joseph barely celebrated that wicket, presumably because it was such an ordinary delivery, but it has given West Indies hope.
WICKET! Australia 24-1 (Khawaja c da Silva b A Joseph 10)
Now then. Khawaja falls cheaply for the first time in the series, tickling a catch down the leg side off Alzarri Joseph. How West Indies needed that.
Updated
5th over: Australia 23-0 (Smith 13, Khawaja 10) Too short from Roach and Khawaja flick-pulls smoothly for four. This is already threatening to get away from West Indies, who look flat in the field. Australia need 193 to win.
4th over: Australia 17-0 (Smith 13, Khawaja 4) Smith leans into an outswinger from Joseph and pings a square drive for four. Australia will be really pleased with this start – a couple of balls have gone past the edge but otherwise they have looked comfortable.
Updated
3rd over: Australia 12-0 (Smith 9, Khawaja 3) Khawaja is beaten by a gorgeous delivery from Roach that moves very late. He’s the dangerman for Australia, even more so with Shamar Joseph probably out of the game with a busted toe. But the rest of the over is pretty harmless, including a full toss that Smith can’t put away.
Bharat Sundaresan with an update on Shamar Joseph:
— SEN Cricket (@SEN_Cricket) January 27, 2024
"The news from the camp is that he is icing his foot. He has not gone for scans. They are just monitoring him for now."#AUSvWI
2nd over: Australia 9-0 (Smith 8, Khawaja 1) Alzarri Joseph shares the new ball. Khawaja gets off the mark with a single, then Smith smashes a back cut for four. Lamentable delivery, laudable shot.
Joseph replies with a jaffa that turns Smith round and zips past the edge. Smith nods respectfully to the bowler.
1st over: Australia 4-0 (Smith 4, Khawaja 0) Roach starts with a couple of big inswingers to Smith, who offers no stroke to the first and plays around the second. West Indies go up for LBW but it was missing leg.
After a nervous start in his new role, with scores of 12, 11* and 6, Smith would love a matchwinning innings to silence the chatter. He gets off the mark with a handsome drive to the left of mid-off for four.
Okay, here we go: Kemar Roach to Steve Smith.
Australia need 216 to win
They have just under 90 minutes to bat against the new ball under lights. West Indies surely need to take at least two wickets, ideally 10.
Updated
Shamar Joseph retires hurt: West Indies 193 all out
Yes, Joseph is unable to continue. He limps from the field, supported by Sinclair and the physio. A number of the Australian players go over to see how he is. That’s a big blow because he surely won’t be able to bowl tonight, if at all.
Shamar Joseph has to retire hurt after this toe-crusher from Mitch Starc!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 27, 2024
Australia need 216 to win #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/3gAucaEfwg
Updated
72.3 overs: West Indies 193-9 (Sinclair 14, S Joseph 3) Starc thinks he’s wrapped up the innings when Joseph is given out LBW to a yorker – but it’s a no-ball.
Starc may have finished the innings anyway. Joseph was hit flush on the toe and is in a lot of pain. I reckon that’s broken.
Updated
72nd over: West Indies 190-9 (Sinclair 14, S Joseph 1) Joseph sweeps Lyon round the corner and just short of Starc at deep backward square. There are still 26 overs to bowl tonight; we won’t get all those but Australia will probably to have to face between 15 and 20.
71st over: West Indies 189-9 (Sinclair 14, S Joseph 0) At last! Sinclair has an almighty waft at Starc and slices the ball over the head of Smith for four. Khawaja moves to fly slip as a result and Sinclair goes back into his bunker. West Indies lead by 211.
In Hyderabad, meanwhile, Ollie Pope is playing a blinder. It won’t affect the result but it might just change his career. I must confess, I thought he was done against quality spin after the first innings.
Updated
70th over: West Indies 185-9 (Sinclair 10, S Joseph 0) So much for the West Indies tail ending the stalemate. Even Shamar Joseph has come out blocking. This has the earmarks of a deliberate, confused plan to kill time rather than concentrate on scoring runs.
That’s another wicket maiden, which makes the score two for three in nine overs since the break.
Updated
WICKET! West Indies 185-9 (Roach LBW b Lyon 1)
Nathan Lyon puts Kemar Roach out of his misery with a quicker ball that traps him in front of middle. Roach missed it by a mile. He reviewed, hoping it might have missed leg stump, but it was umpire’s call and Lyon has his third wicket. West Indies have scored two for three since the tea break.
Lyon gets his third - umpire's call! #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/vnYuyQn7c9
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 27, 2024
Updated
69th over: West Indies 185-8 (Sinclair 10, Roach 1) Drinks are brought on for the West Indies batters between overs, possibly an excuse to remind them that scoring runs is a worthwhile objective.
Sinclair misses one big drive at the new bowler Starc. The rest is stalemate.
Updated
68th over: West Indies 185-8 (Sinclair 10, Roach 1) Another maiden, Lyon to Roach. Since the break West Indies have scored – morning Richie - two for two in seven overs. They lead by 207.
Updated
67th over: West Indies 185-8 (Sinclair 10, Roach 1) Sinclair’s strokelessness suggests West Indies have a particular time when they want to bowl. I’m not sure it’s right tactic overall; time will tell.
The upshot is that Hazlewood can hammer out another maiden. His figures are straight from the 20th century: 14-5-23-3.
66th over: West Indies 185-8 (Sinclair 10, Roach 1) As you were: Smith is back on the field, just in time to see Lyon have a big LBW appeal against Roach turned down. It was a lovely delivery, which turned a long way, but Roach got outside the line.
Another maiden. West Indies have scored 12 runs in the last 10 overs.
65th over: West Indies 185-8 (Sinclair 10, Roach 1) Smith hurt a stomach muscle while taking that catch and has left the field. That might mean he can’t open, depending on how long he’s off.
WICKET! West Indies 184-8 (A Joseph c Smith b Hazlewood 0)
Alzarri Joseph hung around for only four balls. He threw everything into a bottom-handed drive at Hazlewood and edged towards second slip, where Smith leapt to take a fantastic two-handed catch. My word, that is one for the portfolio.
Steve Smith! That's more like it! #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/OGFVVd8ww8
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 27, 2024
Updated
64th over: West Indies 184-7 (Sinclair 10, A Joseph 0) That wicket should end the burgeoning stalemate, because West Indies’ Nos 9-11 tend not to hang around. Lyon bowls a good maiden to the No8 Sinclair, including one delivery that turns sharply to follow the batsman.
Updated
WICKET! West Indies 184-7 (Greaves c Carey b Hazlewood 33)
63rd over Josh Hazlewood returns to the attack after tea. He’s the man of the series to date, with 12 wickets at 11.58.
Make that 13 wickets at 10.69! Greaves edges a push through to Carey, who fumbles a straightforward catch but eventually grabs the ball at the third attempt. Carey widens his eyes in relief as he gets to his feet.
The ball from Hazlewood didn’t do much but the line and length were just immaculate.
Just says caught in the scorebook#AUSvWI
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) January 27, 2024
Updated
62nd over: West Indies 184-6 (Greaves 33, Sinclair 10) A tight over to start the session, just a single from it. Still no sign of West Indies putting their foot on the gas; they’ve scored 15 from the last eight overs.
Ready? Tough, because Nathan Lyon is.
Earlier today, in Canberra, Australia made light work of a tricky target.
Dinner/tea: West Indies lead by 205
That was Australia’s session – three for 72 from 24.1 overs – but West Indies continued to inch their way towards a useful score. It’s been a team effort: nobody has scored more than Kirk McKenzie’s 41, but of those who have batted today only Josh da Silva has failed to reach double figures.
Australia’s bowlers gave everything in sweltering conditions, and two of the wickets came from brilliant fielding by Travis Head and Cameron Green. They need one last push after the break.
61st over: West Indies 183-6 (Greaves 32, Sinclair 10) Cummins rams in a couple of short balls from round the wicket that Sinclair ignores. A weary Cummins walks back to his mark with all the joie de vivre of Sisyphus.
He moves back over the wicket, takes a slip and bowls a superb bumper that whistles past Sinclair’s maroon helmet. A fine over to end another excellent session.
“Greetings from India!” writes Sriram Prasad. “English viewers might have switched the telly off given that England are losing (they just lost Stokes) and Australia are winning (?), unless I have underestimated their resilience (or lack of hope?). Anyways, with two Test matches and the AO final just starting, I can only watch one and follow the others on OBO. Thank you for doing God’s work.”
Mother Cricket’s work, surely. And yes, I think Australia are still winning, but I suppose in a pink-ball Test you can never discount a top-order collapse. West Indies lead by 205.
60th over: West Indies 182-6 (Greaves 31, Sinclair 10) Sinclair, pushing with hard hands, inside-edges Lyon just short of Head at short leg. It would have been an incredible catch.
Lyon tosses the next ball up outside off, and Sinclair blazes it over wide mid-off for four. Shot!
59th over: West Indies 177-6 (Greaves 30, Sinclair 6) Sinclair defends solidly, nothing else in his mind, against Cummins. Maybe West Indies’ plan is just to bat time and have an hour with the new ball under lights. It’s an added tactical element in pink-ball Tests, though I’m still not sure when is the best time to bat.
58th over: West Indies 177-6 (Greaves 30, Sinclair 6) “I’m always out there Rob,” writes Eamonn Maloney, “both as a reader and a more general character description, though flitting between this and the other, where I see England are regretting getting Kuhnemannia at the sight of a bunsen (Hartley? Who he?). Reaching a bit far into the ranks for the sake of fielding enough turners surely.”
Although they got the balance wrong in this game, I don’t think they reached that far into the ranks – bar Liam Dawson, a decent thirtysomething spinner, this is all they’ve got. This series, to borrow a phrase from Ashes past, a fart competing with thunder.
57th over: West Indies 174-6 (Greaves 28, Sinclair 5) Cummins is on for Starc, who also bowled only two overs in that spell. It’s roasting at the Gabba which is why Cummins is making so many bowling changes.
At the moment West Indies are scoring exclusively to third man, and Sinclair gets a run down there off Cummins’ last ball.
Updated
56th over: West Indies 173-6 (Greaves 28, Sinclair 4) Lyon replaces Green, who bowled a fine spell of 2-0-15-0. Ignore the figures: 12 of the runs came off the edge.
Greaves defends the majority of the over a little awkwardly off the back foot, then treats himself to a boundary off the last ball with a steer past slip. It was deliberately played, though it went too close to Smith for Greaves’ comfort.
55th over: West Indies 169-6 (Greaves 24, Sinclair 4) A relatively harmless maiden from Starc to Sinclair.
Updated
54th over: West Indies 169-6 (Greaves 24, Sinclair 4) India’s win in 2021 is the only time a team has chased more than 236 to win a Gabba Test, but in the modern game those fourth-innings stats are red herrings. I might be wrong (it’s not exactly without precedent) but it feels like Australia are well on top now.
Lyon is back on the field but Green continues and makes an excellent stop in his follow through when Greaves times a very nice straight drive. Green’s having no luck in this spell: the over ends with Greaves edging successive deliveries for four. The first looped wide of Labuschagne at backward point; the second bounced just short of the slips.
Updated
53rd over: West Indies 161-6 (Greaves 16, Sinclair 4) How did that miss?! The new batter Kevin Sinclair feels nervously for his first ball and inside edges it this far over the top of middle stump.
WICKET! West Indies 157-6 (da Silva c Green b Starc 7)
The match is turning Australia’s way. Da Silva slashes at Starc and edges high to gully, where Green takes a really tricky catch at the second attempt. He dropped the ball above his head – no shame in that, given the speed at which it was travelling – but reacted brilliantly to clasp the rebound.
Parried, juggled - and caught!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 27, 2024
Cameron Green held his nerve! #OhWhatAFeeling | #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/bLcqMQK7mF
Updated
52nd over: West Indies 157-5 (Greaves 16, da Silva 7) Green replaces Lyon, who is off the field. Not sure which came first. Green has a big LBW shout turned down when da Silva pushes outside a nipbacker. Too high.
A good over from Green continues when da Silva is turned round and thick edges for four. Lyon comes back on the field at the end of the over.
51st over: West Indies 150-5 (Greaves 16, da Silva 0) I was really surprised by how often Head was excluded from either a Test team of 2023 or a World Cup Team of the Tournament. Right here, right now, he’s the biggest matchwinner in world cricket. It’s such a great story, a reminder of what can be achieved with a profound change in mindset.
Starc returns to the attack and begins with a quiet over to Greaves. West Indies lead by 172.
Updated
50th over: West Indies 148-5 (Greaves 14) That was the last ball of the over, and it feels like a decisive moment in the game. With bat, ball and in the field, Travis Head 2.0 is the definition of a matchwinner.
WICKET! West Indies 148-5 (Hodge run out 29)
Sensational fielding from Travis Head! Hodge defended Lyon to short leg, overbalanced and was out of his ground for a split second. That’s all Head needed to grab the ball and flick it out of the side of his right hand. It hit the stumps with Hodge’s bat still in mid-air as he dived back towards the crease.
The bat was over the line but not grounded, so Hodge is on his way for a useful 29. That is magnificent from Head.
Travis Head! What reflexes!#PlayOfTheDay | @nrmainsurance | #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/ffCYZwmBov
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 27, 2024
Updated
India v England latest
England’s batters came out swinging in Hyderabad, but a double strike from the awesome Jasprit Bumrah has moved India closer to victory. Jim Wallace is following that one.
49th over: West Indies 144-4 (Hodge 25, Greaves 14) A rag falls out of Cummins’ pocket just before his delivery stride, prompting Greaves to pull away and say “Sorry sorry sorry Pat!”
A shovel into the leg side brings Greaves two more, after which Hazlewood tries unsuccessfully to have the ball changed. A bouncer sits Greaves down and also brushes Greaves’ perisocopic bat, and an increasingly menacing over from Cummins ends with an inside-edge to fine leg for two. Drinks.
Thanks Megan, evening everyone. This is intriguing stuff – West Indies have a useful lead of 162, but they probably need to double it before Australia really start to worry.
West Indies 140-4 (Greaves 10, Hodge 25) Another ballooning ball from the first ball of Lyon’s over – this one is caught, but unfortunately it only hit the pad and not the bat this time. It does succeed in bringing some life back into the match though, as the Australians start to perk up again. The shadows are starting to fall over the pitch, which must be bringing some much-needed relief from the heat as well. This is where I’ll leave you for tonight – my esteemed colleague Rob Smyth will take it from here. Enjoy the evening – the match is deliciously poised!
West Indies 139-4 (Greaves 9, Hodge 25) Another over from Captain Pat and the batters seem keen to take things up a notch, running a quick single early when it doesn’t look like there’s a run on. The heat takes the energy out of the game – the momentum and excitement from the Lyon wicket has already been sapped out of the Australians and things look a little flat out there again. Hodge gives us a big, dramatic Smith / Labuschagne style leave late in the over, but aside from that, it’s a fairly uneventful over.
West Indies 137-4 (Greaves 8, Hodge 24) Lyon keeps on with his spell, he’s still looking up and about after that last wicket and he’s keeping it tight with his line.
West Indies 134-4 (Greaves 7, Hodge 22) Here comes Cummins again – the stats tell us he gets a wicket every 38 balls at the Gabba and he’s up to 42 balls now, so there must be a wicket coming soon.
West Indies 132-4 (Greaves 5, Hodge 22) A chance off Lyon’s first ball of the over – the ball hit the bat, then pad and ballooned up in the air, but Head couldn’t get to it in time. There’s another Marnus AppealTM (but from Steve Smith) later in the over, but it doesn’t come to anything of course.
West Indies 131-4 (Greaves 4, Hodge 22) Here comes Hazlewood again, bowling at Hodge. There’s a minor appeal for LBW in the middle of the over, but not much interest from anyone. Hodge responds with another beautiful straight drive – there are so many runs being scored down the ground today. Hazlewood fights back with the short ball, but Hodge is unbothered by it and easily ducks it.
West Indies 127-4 (Greaves 4, Hodge 18) Lyon just keeps going and on the second ball of the over, it pays off and he dismisses Athanaze. His first ball to Greaves is also very good, with some great turn that fools the new batter. On the final ball of the over, Greaves sees his opportunity and leans into the ball to send a nice cover drive to the boundary for four.
WICKET! Athanaze c Smith b Lyon 35 (West Indies 123-4)
Finally Australia get the breakthrough they wanted, finally Smith holds a catch and everyone is delighted. Lyon catches the outside edge of Athanaze’s bat and Smith swoops on it.
Updated
West Indies 123-3 (Athanaze 35, Hodge 18) The pitch gets a little bit of treatment, the groundskeepers bringing out those metal dealies they use to bang the pitch down and stop the footmarks getting too slippery. Hazlewood comes back on to bowl and immediately finds a good line to Athanaze. He’s so good at just hitting the same spot relentlessly and frustrating a batter into making a mistake. WinViz has the game at 50-50 now – it really is anyone’s game from here. This session is crucial.
West Indies 122-3 (Athanaze 34, Hodge 18) Green heads off the ground for his scheduled break from fielding. The old boys in the commentary box are seething over this – back in their day, people just got heat stroke and dehydration like proper cricketers. Lyon continues and it’s another solid over for him, just the one from it.
West Indies 121-3 (Athanaze 33, Hodge 18) Green resumes and keeps on bowling that good line and length. Another dangerous little scurry for a second run from the West Indies – if they’d paused just a little they could have been gone, but it’s good commitment from the pair to keep pushing the run rate along. Then there’s another one of those glorious drives down the ground and Hodge picks up a boundary.
West Indies 115-3 (Athanaze 33, Hodge 12) A misfield from Marsh and a poor chase gives Hodge three runs and Lyon is very unhappy about it. That might be a moment we talk about later in this game. Lyon is bowling well, getting the ball to skid on uncomfortably for the batters. Another wicket is surely not far away for him.
West Indies 111-3 (Athanaze 30, Hodge 11) Another Green over and he starts with a peach of a ball that beats the bat and just misses the inside edge. Hodge looks a bit nervy after that and it’s a big leave on the next ball to keep him safe. Almost a run out opportunity when Hodge tries to get off strike and would certainly have resulted in one of them being run out, but Athanaze sends him back.
Kenrick Riley has sent an email with his thoughts on the Smith drop:
Dear Megan
I suspect the ball Smith dropped would not have made it to Uzzie anyway — who was standing well back. So he was right to go for it. On any other day, Smith would have pouched it. Maybe fretting over opening has clouded his concentration? Not that it matters much. He might come out next knock and make 200no!
Kenrick Riley
Love the positivity Kenrick, I hope he comes good as well – I’d love to see him find success as an opener.
West Indies 109-3 (Athanaze 30, Hodge 9) A stumping attempt from the first ball of the over, but Athanaze is safely in his crease and there’s no appeal. But Lyon has got him swiping outside off and it looks exciting.
West Indies 107-3 (Athanaze 29, Hodge 8) And we’re back! It’s still 32 degrees out on the field and 69% humidity (nice). The ‘feels like’ temp has dropped slightly to 37.1 degrees, which still doesn’t sound all that pleasant. Green gets us started and Athanaze takes a single straightaway. Green continues with his good bowling today, hitting a great line and length and not offering much to the batters. It’s just the one run from the over.
Speaking of Sinclair’s celebration, I especially enjoyed Dan Liebke’s tweet yesterday about the memories it brought back for those of us who spent the early 2000s on the hill at Kogarah Oval.
Phantom sirens. Backflip celebrations. It’s like I’m watching St George-Illawarra in the NRL in the year 2000 #AUSvWI
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) January 26, 2024
What an incredible capture of Sinclair’s wicket celebration yesterday – hang it in the Louvre.
How to celebrate a maiden Test wicket ft. Kevin Sinclair 🤸🏿♂️ #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/erPX5MQSkN
— Cricketyme (@cricketyme) January 27, 2024
Ross McGillivray drops into the email inbox with a bit of a cheeky question:
Can Smith call for a review when he drops a catch?
Bharat Sunderesan with the important update about what the players are being served at drinks – looks like a delicious slushie that would go down very well in this weather.
The icy drink being served up for the Aussie players has such a lovely shade of pink. Wonder what’s in it. Looks just perfect for this hot day #AusvWI pic.twitter.com/irws9Ad6oV
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) January 27, 2024
I’m interested to know your thoughts on this Steve Smith chance. Should he have held on to it? Or should he have left it for Khawaja? Is it all about slips spacing – the favourite topic of the commentators? Let me know your thoughts via the links at the top of the page.
Another chance goes begging!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 27, 2024
Cameron Green asking all the right questions with the ball #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/AgwfmF0Wiq
If you’re looking for something to get you through this tea break, you could go back and catch up on the day so far in the India v England Test. Of course, they’re at lunch while we’re at tea, so you can’t watch it during the break, but we have a great OBO going that’ll make you feel like you haven’t missed a minute of the action. Currently England are 89-1, trailing India by 101.
Tea break. West Indies 106-3
An intriguing session, one in which two wickets came about, but it’s not as many as Australia would have wanted. All up, you’d say it was the West Indies’ session, despite some good bowling. They lead Australia by 128 runs at the moment and they have the batting power to hold out and build on that lead. After Australia’s top order performance in the first innings, nothing is guaranteed for a fourth innings chase, so they will want to dismiss the West Indies as cheaply as they possibly can. You can feel the desperation to take wickets coming off in waves and the disappointment of that Smith dropped catch will reverberate into the break.
Take a break, get rehydrated and get ready for a big second session – there’s plenty more cricket to be played today!
West Indies 106-3 (Athanaze 28, Hodge 8) Lyon looks to take advantage of the pressure he and Green have built over the past two overs and he’s cramping Hodge right up. It’s another maiden, the third in a row.
West Indies 106-3 (Athanaze 28, Hodge 8) Another Green over – he continually starts his overs very well. The second ball just beats the inside edge and the third ball does as well – it’s so close to picking up a little feather edge there. It’s a great battle between Green and Athanaze. It takes until the penultimate ball of the over for Athanaze to get bat on ball, but he can’t beat the field. The pressure builds so much and there’s a catching opportunity off the last ball of the over – it’s a tough chance, but catchable and Smith puts it down. Looks like he should have left that one to Khawaja.
West Indies 106-3 (Athanaze 28, Hodge 8) Lyon resumes and continues with his good length, the batters are finding him tough to score off at the moment. It’s a maiden for Lyon.
West Indies 106-3 (Athanaze 28, Hodge 8) Green is back into the attack from the other end. He’s bowling a very good length to start the over, not giving the batters much to work with – and especially not allowing them that drive that they favour. They bring up the 100 with a quick single and there’s a muted applause from the crowd. They’re starting to take a few risks with their running, but it’s paying off so far. Eventually Athanaze finds a gap and cuts one for four, narrowly evading Marsh.
West Indies 99-3 (Athanaze 22, Hodge 7) Another over for Lyon and it’s a tight one, just the one run from it.
West Indies 98-3 (Athanaze 22, Hodge 6) Cummins is beating the bat all over the place at the moment – it’s surely only a matter of time before he catches the edge of the bat. Eventually Athanaze finds one he can drive and he picks up a boundary. Cummins responds with a short ball that Athanaze easily ducks under.
West Indies 94-3 (Athanaze 18, Hodge 6) Again Lyon is making things happen – a little edge off the first ball of the over doesn’t quite carry to Smith at first slip, before running away for four. But it’s evidence of Lyon’s ability to get more out of this pitch.
West Indies 90-3 (Athanaze 18, Hodge 2) Cummins resumes with three dot balls to Athanaze, before a nice pull shot beats the field and he picks up two runs for his trouble. The next ball is a very good length and Athanaze is nearly tricked into flashing at it, but gets his bat out of the way at the last minute.
West Indies 88-3 (Athanaze 16, Hodge 2) Our first look at spin for the day, with Lyon into the attack. He gets McKenzie from his second ball and Hodge comes to the crease after an an excellent first innings. Reader Kathy Phillips thinks Justin Langer might be in line for a coaching role with the West Indies judging by his commentary today. I’ve got the Fox coverage on, so I can’t weigh in on that one, but I’d be interested to hear what others think.
WICKET! McKenzie lbw Lyon 41 (West Indies 85-3)
Lyon immediately has an impact and McKenzie has to go. It was umpire’s call on the wicket on DRS – Australia happy with that one.
Updated
DRS review in progress. Lyon thinks he’s got McKenzie LBW, the umpire agrees, but McKenzie has reviewed.
West Indies 85-2 (Athanaze 15, McKenzie 41) Captain Pat is back and he starts with one of his relentlessly good balls. McKenzie swoops on one he likes soon after, playing a lovely cut shot that forces Lyon to make a diving save. The lead has now reached 100 and Australia are desperate for more wickets before it blows out too much further. After a couple of watchful shots, Athanaze too finds a ball of Cummins’s that takes his fancy that he pulls away to the boundary for four, then clips the next safely over midwicket for another three.
West Indies 75-2 (Athanaze 8, McKenzie 38) Some drinks on the field to start this over – the umpires don’t seem to have an issue with it this time. Both the temperature and the humidity have dropped slightly, so hopefully that brings some relief. Another Hazlewood over, another Labuschagne save on the boundary, we’re into all the old classics early in this over. Just the two runs from the over, things have settled down after the excitement generated from the wicket.
West Indies 73-2 (Athanaze 6, McKenzie 38) Starc resumes and we’re soon treated to another piece of excellent Labuschagne fielding, saving yet another boundary. The heat doesn’t seem to be bothering him – he’s like some kind of reverse Elsa.
West Indies 68-2 (Athanaze 3, McKenzie 36) Hazlewood is back into the attack. He’s bowling some very full balls and McKenzie waits for his opportunity, he’s showing plenty of patience with these good balls so far.
West Indies 66-2 (Athanaze 2, McKenzie 35) Mitchell Starc is back after a little break and looks fresh as a daisy. Cummins is back on the field too – the wicket must have been very refreshing for everyone. Labuschagne appeals for a caught behind late in the over, but typically everyone ignores him. It’s a good over from Starc, just the one run from it.
West Indies 65-2 (Athanaze 2, McKenzie 34) Another over from Green. Cummins has gone off the field and Hazlewood is back on, looking much fresher than he did after his spell. Green builds the pressure through the over and finally gets Brathwaite mistiming one. Athanaze comes to the crease and gets off the mark immediately.
WICKET! Brathwaite c Labuschagne b Green 16 (West Indies 63-2)
Finally the breakthrough comes – Brathwaite mistimes a drive and it’s a simple catch for Labuschagne at extra cover.
Updated
West Indies 63-1 (Brathwaite 16, McKenzie 34) A beautiful ball to start the over for Cummins, Brathwaite tries to get his bat behind it, but it beats him. A quick single from the second brings up the 50 partnership.
The umpires decided to listen to Cummins and send the West Indies’ drinks runners away at the end of the last over, meanwhile Australia had a sneaky runner bring drinks to them without consequence. You’ve got to get up pretty early in the morning to outsmart Cummins.
West Indies 62-1 (Brathwaite 15, McKenzie 34) Green resumes after Cummins has a word to the umpire about the drinks run out to the batters – he reminds the umpire the day started on schedule in terms of overs and now they’re two overs behind – hinting it may not be the bowling team responsible for that slowness in the over rate. Just a reminder that it is very hot out there, so it’s not unreasonable, but it is something the umpires will have to consider. A good over for Green, just a leg bye off it.
West Indies 61-1 (Brathwaite 15, McKenzie 34) Cummins tries a change of angle around the wicket and McKenzie likes it very much with another strong drive for four. Cummins replies with great line and length and McKenzie finds a shot to play, glancing one down to deep fine leg before finishing the over with a ball played on the up, which luckily falls safely.
West Indies 55-1 (Brathwaite 15, McKenzie 28) Green gets his first over of the day and Brathwaite starts watchfully against him. It’s a very tight over until Green misses his line on the last ball of the over, that Brathwaite gleefully cuts for four.
West Indies 51-1 (Brathwaite 11, McKenzie 28) Hazlewood has headed off the field for a quick reprieve and Boland is on to field. Pat Cummins bowls his first over of the day and starts with a short ball that McKenzie ducks under. These batters seem to be finding a lot of room down the ground, but again Labuschagne is there to cut it off before it reaches the boundary. McKenzie won’t give up though and he brings up the 50 for the West Indies with another drive down the ground for four and no one can stop that one.
West Indies 45-1 (Brathwaite 11, McKenzie 22) Just when it looks like another straight drive for four from McKenzie, Labuschagne saves the day with an excellent piece of fielding on the boundary to save the run – it might be the spark Australia needs. Just that three off a tight over from Hazlewood.
West Indies 42-1 (Brathwaite 11, McKenzie 19) Brathwaite starts the over by taking on Starc with a strong straight drive down the ground for four. McKenzie gets into the action soon after with a straight drive of his own that shoots past Starc to the boundary for four. Starc replies with a very full yorker that McKenzie has to work hard to dig out.
Updated
West Indies 32-1 (Brathwaite 6, McKenzie 14) Hazlewood resumes and the West Indies bring up a lead of 50. There’s an edge off McKenzie, but luckily for him it falls right into the gap and runs away to the boundary for four. Frustrating for Hazlewood, but it’s great bowling nonetheless.
Updated
West Indies 27-1 (Brathwaite 5, McKenzie 10) Starc resumes and starts very tidily. He gives away a front foot no ball late in the over and then a quick single to finish. Phil Withall has got in contact via email with an important weather update from Brisbane.
Afternoon Megan,
I feel for the poor sods bowling at the Gabba today. I’ve just finished a nine hour shift in a kitchen with broken air-conditioning. The humidity here is painful, so much so I feel like if been slowly poached....
Bowler rotation will be paramount for Australia in this session
Cheers
Phil
I’m feeling for you Phil, that sounds very uncomfortable and I’m glad your shift has finished! Let’s hope the Australian bowlers can get through – this has surely got to be one of the benefits of having a fast bowling captain – he’ll know intimately how much of a struggle it is and keep the bowlers rotating.
Updated
West Indies 25-1 (Brathwaite 4, McKenzie 10) Hazlewood gets his first full over of the day, with Brathwaite back on strike. He doesn’t quite hit his line to start and there’s a quick single from Brathwaite and a two from McKenzie before Hazlewood fights back with his trademark accuracy to finish with three dots. The last ball comes very close to the stumps after being left by McKenzie.
Updated
West Indies 22-1 (Brathwaite 3, McKenzie 8) Starc starts his over with a very nice yorker, but McKenzie manages to get his bat underneath it and sends it to the boundary for four to get off the mark. McKenzie is watchful, after that initial boundary he’s settled and trying to read Starc’s bowling, leaving and blocking while he gets his measure. Finally he’s ready to make his move and he finishes the over with another four.
Updated
West Indies 14-1 (Brathwaite 3, McKenzie 0) The first over of the day and Hazlewood picks up where he left off last night. It’s always slightly weird to start a day halfway through an over, gives a bit of a Jumanji vibe – you kind of feel like Hazlewood was trapped in the jungle all night waiting for everyone to start the game again. Just a leg bye off the last three balls of that over, typically tight and accurate from Hazlewood.
Updated
Not long now until play gets underway on day three. It’s currently 34.1 degrees in Brisbane, but the ‘feels like’ temperature is up at 38.9, so expect the stifling heat to be affecting the way the match is played today. There were plenty of very wet shirts even after sunset last night, so one can only imagine how they will cope with the heat under the afternoon sun in Brisbane (which, by the way was the first draft of April Sun in Cuba). The players are at the ropes and Captain Pat is giving his inspirational rev up, so let’s get going!
As we know, too much cricket is never enough and the Australian women have got their home series against South Africa underway with a T20 win at Manuka Oval in Canberra earlier today. Captain Alyssa Healy overcame illness to play a key role with the bat, scoring 46 from 28 balls. Beth Mooney top scored for Australia with 72 from 57. With the ball, Darcie Brown and Ellyse Perry took two wickets each, while Georgia Wareham chipped in with one. Australia won by eight wickets with five balls remaining. You can read more about it in our match report.
Did you miss yesterday’s big day of action? Don’t stress, we’ve got you covered. Here’s the over-by-over action, as it happened with Martin Pegan and James Wallace. Or if you’re looking for more of a quick primer, here is the match report.
Preamble
Hi everyone, welcome to Day Three of this intriguing Test match. My name is Megan and I’ll be guiding you through the first half of today and my wonderful colleague Rob Smyth will pick up later in the day to see you through until stumps.
This Test has been a fascinating contest so far – the Australian bowlers looked to be on top early, but then a West Indies fightback starting with Kavem Hodge and building with Joshua Da Silva and Kevin Sinclair set them up for a solid first innings total of 311. When Australia finally bowled them out, they then went about losing all their wickets and for a while it appeared that 311 was an insurmountable total rather than a decent one. But again there were a few heroes that saved the innings – Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey and Pat Cummins pulled Australia back into contention before declaring 22 runs behind. There was plenty of desperation for a wicket in the final few overs of the day’s play and finally they managed to get Chanderpaul caught behind from the bowling of Josh Hazlewood.
It was a huge day of action and we’re expecting the same today. There’s reportedly some rain coming in Brisbane later tonight and tomorrow, so both teams will be keen to keep things moving. Play gets underway very soon, so let’s get into it!
