Alzarri Joseph’s four-wicket haul ensured West Indies stayed in the contest as Beau Webster and Alex Carey both struck half-centuries for Australia to leave things finely balanced after an absorbing opening day of the second Test at the National Cricket Stadium in Grenada on Thursday.
It was a day in which momentum swung back and forth before settling into a state of tense equilibrium, after Australia chose to bat on a surface that offered early movement and later eased out. They posted 286 all out in 66.5 overs—a total that neither asserts dominance nor concedes control.
Australia's innings was anchored by two gritty half-centuries from Beau Webster, who made 60, and Alex Carey, who made 63, while Joseph’s 4-61 kept things interesting, along with Jayden Seales, who had 2-45.
West Indies openers Kraigg Brathwaite, in his 100th Test, and John Campbell made their way to the middle but walked back to the pavilion soon after as bad light brought the day to a close without a ball being bowled in the West Indies innings.
Alex Carey and Beau Webster shared a 112-run stand. (Photo: Associated Press)
Earlier, the tourists got off to a brisk but shaky start as Sam Konstas (25) showed promise before he fell to Anderson Phillip, while Usman Khawaja (16) and Steven Smith (three) departed cheaply, both undone by the sharp pace of Alzarri Joseph.
Australia’s top four, including Smith and Khawaja, were back in the pavilion with less than 60 runs on the board, but Cameron Green and Travis Head gradually steadied the innings. Green (26), who was given a life after being put down by John Campbell, inevitably fell to Seales' final ball before lunch.
Kraigg Brathwaite receives a special cap for his 100th Test from Roddy Estwick. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)
Head (29) attempted to counterpunch and edged a sharp delivery from Shamar Joseph to Shai Hope behind the stumps to leave the score at 110-5. From there, Webster and Carey combined for a crucial 112-run sixth-wicket partnership that dragged the innings back from the brink.
Carey, in particular, looked fluent, as he continued his good run of form from the first Test with 10 boundaries and a six in his 81-ball stay, while Webster absorbed pressure to hold the innings together. However, the West Indies clawed their way back late in the day as Carey miscued one from Justin Greaves and was caught by Brathwaite at a pivotal moment.
Shai Hope completes Beau Webster's runout. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)
Captain Pat Cummins (17) misjudged the bounce of an Alzarri Joseph delivery and was bowled, after which Seales had Mitchell Starc (six) caught behind. Webster, in trying to manage the lower order, came back for a second and was run out by Keacy Carty, and Nathan Lyon (11) offered some resistance, but Australia were eventually dismissed just shy of the 300-run mark, with Josh Hazlewood finishing unbeaten on 10.
With a traditionally unpredictable Grenada pitch and history on the line—the last three Tests have been won by the team batting second—West Indies will now look to capitalise on day two, but Brathwaite and Campbell are expected to lay a strong platform to bring that hope to fruition.