West Indies are determined to keep scrapping when they face Australia in the second and final Test with both sides dealing with injury issues.
The Windies were beaten by 164 runs in the first Test in Perth and face an uphill battle to save the series in Adelaide.
Australia will be without captain Pat Cummins for the day-night Test following a quad strain he suffered in the series opener.
The hosts have opted not to risk their skipper, with a series with South Africa, who are second behind Australia in the World Test Championship standings, around the corner.
Steve Smith will deputise as captain for the finale of this series, which does not form part of the Test Championship.
The tourists will likely be without Nkrumah Bonner, who has a concussion. All-rounder Kyle Mayers will only be available as a batter because of a shoulder issue while bowler Jayden Seales has a knee problem.
Kemar Roach is also a doubt due to a hamstring concern for an attack that took only six wickets in Perth and was tormented by Marnus Labuschagne, who scored 204 and 104 in a man of the match display.
But assistant coach Roddy Eastwick wants to see more fighting spirit, which was most evident in the first Test when fast bowler Alzarri Joseph troubled Labuschange with his pace.
"You are playing the best side in the world, no doubt about that," Estwick said. "You can't go gung-ho.
"I know everyone has seen how England are playing and think that's the way to go. Well, that's the way they want to go, fine by them, but with us, we know we have to be as patient as possible.
"We are playing the best team in the world and we just want to grind and fight and stay in the fight as long as possible.
"We did that [in Perth], we want to go one step further. It's all about improving, learning and getting better. You've just got to keep fighting and scrapping with the Australians."
Scott out to bowl Windies over
Scott Boland has been called into the Australia squad in the absence of Cummins.
Boland has an incredible average of 9.55 having taken 18 wickets in three Tests in the 2021-22 Ashes series.
His last Sheffield Shield match for Victoria against South Australia at Adelaide saw him take six wickets, so hopes will be high for another impressive showing on the international scene.
Australia's Adelaide dominance
The omens for an upset win for the Windies are not good. To be frank, they're terrible.
Australia are undefeated in their last 18 men's Tests against the Windies (W14 D4), last losing to them in 2003 at St John's in Antigua; in fact, their last loss to them at home came in 1997.
In addition, Australia have won eight of their last nine men's Tests at Adelaide Oval including their last three on the bounce. They are undefeated in their last four Tests at the venue against the West Indies (W3 D1).
Global Super League trophy unveiled
The trophy for ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) has been unveiled by Guyana’s President, His Excellency President Dr Mohammad Irfan Ali and shown to the Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at a cricket event which was part of the Indian leader’s state visit to Guyana. GSL Chairman, Sir Clive Lloyd and Guyanese cricket great Alvin Kallicharran were also in attendance for the ceremony.
The trophy has been inspired by Guyana’s 276 discovered waterfalls including the magnificent Kaieteur Falls, the largest single drop waterfall in the world and has been designed by Indian company Loka Lifestyle.
Sir Clive Lloyd, Chairman of GSL, said: “The Global Super League is South America’s first standalone T20 tournament and is a fantastic opportunity to showcase beautiful Guyana to the rest of the world. With that in mind it is very fitting that the trophy highlights Kaieteur Falls, one of the most stunning landmarks in the region. We are looking forward to seeing which of the five competing teams will claim the trophy on 6th December.”
The Global Super League will see teams from Australia, Bangladesh, England, Guyana and Pakistan competing for the trophy and a US$1million prize pool. The tournament runs from 26 November to 6 December with all matches taking place at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
Zimbabwe crush Pakistan in rain-affected ODI series opener
Zimbabwe's spinners took centre-stage as they earned a crushing 80-run victory over Pakistan in the teams' rain-affected ODI opener on Sunday.
Torrential rain, thunder and lightning halted play after 21 overs of the Pakistan innings, with the tourists toiling at 60-6 after bowling Zimbabwe out for 205.
Sean Williams, Blessing Muzarabani and Sikandar Raza each scalped two wickets apiece as no Pakistan batter surpassed the 19 runs managed by Mohammad Rizwan.
The dismal weather would ensure no further play was possible, with Pakistan having completed the requisite 20 overs to ensure a result would be declared, ensuring Zimbabwe won on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.
Richard Ngarava had earlier top-scored for Zimbabwe with a steady 48 off 52 balls, with Raza adding an important 39 from 56 deliveries after the hosts had been dropped to 99-5.
Salman Agha and Faisal Akram finished with three wickets apiece for Pakistan, but it was not enough to prevent Zimbabwe from being declared comfortable victors, with their total some way clear of the DLS par score of 141.
Data Debrief: Zimbabwe end Bulawayo hoodoo
Zimbabwe's victory may not have come in the circumstances they would have envisaged, but it did end their dismal run against Pakistan at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
They had lost each of their previous eight matches against Pakistan at the venue, only winning one of their last nine there overall (one draw, seven defeats), after winning three of their previous four.
They will hope to carry this momentum into Tuesday's second match at the same venue, as they bid to clinch victory in the three-match series.
Cricket West Indies to review playing conditions after Super50 Cup Final ends in double forfeit
The 2024 CG United Super50 Cup ended in unprecedented fashion on Saturday, as both finalists, Jamaica Scorpions and Barbados Pride, forfeited the final after their captains failed to attend the scheduled coin toss. As a result, Cricket West Indies (CWI) has declared that there will be no champion for this year’s tournament.
The anticlimactic conclusion followed what had been an exciting and competitive tournament, leaving organizers, fans, and players stunned. The forfeiture occurred after a heavily rain-affected day at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago, where persistent showers delayed the start of play.
Despite the delays, match officials confirmed that the game could proceed as a 20-over-a-side contest if play commenced by 6:17 PM. Both teams were informed that the toss would be held at 6:00 PM to facilitate the adjusted start time. However, neither captain appeared for the toss, leading to both teams failing to take the field and the final being ruled a double forfeit.
In a statement, CWI announced plans to review the tournament regulations following the unprecedented events. According to the playing conditions, if no play was possible due to rain, both teams would have been declared co-champions. However, as conditions were deemed playable, the failure of both teams to take the field resulted in the forfeiture.
“These unanticipated events highlight the need for a thorough review of the playing conditions to prevent a recurrence of such situations,” CWI said. “Further consultation with stakeholders will determine the necessary adjustments to the regulations.”
The conclusion marred what had been a tournament filled with memorable moments and outstanding performances. Barbados Pride secured their spot in the final with a commanding 153-run victory over defending champions Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, while Jamaica Scorpions cruised past the Leeward Islands Hurricanes with a 107-run win in their semifinal.
The round-robin phase produced several thrilling matches, including Barbados Pride’s nail-biting one-wicket win over Guyana, thanks to debutant Demetrius Richards’ unbeaten 65, and their eight-run victory over the Windward Volcanoes, with captain Kyle Mayers starring in a dramatic final over.
Individual brilliance was on full display throughout the tournament. Justin Greaves of the Leeward Islands Hurricanes made history as the first West Indian to score three consecutive List A centuries, with scores of 111*, 112, and 151*. Meanwhile, standout bowling performances from Rahkeem Cornwall (6/20), Khary Pierre (4/8), and Yannic Cariah underscored the importance of spin in Caribbean conditions. Emerging batting talent also shone, with Carlos Brown’s maiden List A century (121) and Matthew Nandu’s 116 highlighting the depth of future West Indian stars.
The forfeiture also impacted the tournament’s financial outcomes. The champions were set to receive US$100,000, while the runners-up were to earn US$50,000. Both semi-finalists will receive US$25,000 each.
CWI is expected to release additional information after completing its review, as the cricketing community reflects on an unforgettable—but ultimately disappointing—conclusion to the region’s premier 50-over competition.
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