The Kensington Oval in Barbados buzzed with excitement today. The highly anticipated Australia vs West Indies 1st Test has begun. Cricket fans around the world tuned in. Everyone expected a classic Test match. However, Day 1 brought some big surprises.
The toss was won by Pat Cummins, the captain of Australia. He decided to bat first. On a field that has a reputation for favoring batsmen early on, this choice appeared simple. Usman Khawaja and debutant Sam Konstas, both Australian openers, approached the crease. They had to contend with the fast bowling attack of the West Indies.
The West Indies bowlers, however, had other ideas. They started with fire. Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph bowled with pinpoint accuracy throughout their spells. They found some early swings. Soon, wickets began to fall. West Indies removed debutant Sam Konstas and Cameron Green before they could settle. Josh Inglis also departed without a big score. The West Indies bowlers kept up the pressure. They did not give Australia any easy runs.
Australia’s middle order struggled. Further, Usman Khawaja and Travis Head bravely tried to rebuild the innings. The West Indies fielders supported their bowlers well. They held onto their catches. The home crowd cheered every wicket. The atmosphere was electric. Similarly, this made the Australian batsmen work even harder.
Australia had lost several wickets by lunchtime. They were in danger. Following the break, the West Indies bowlers maintained their stellar form. They continued to take wickets consistently. Toward the end, Pat Cummins gave Australia some crucial resistance with a quick-fire cameo. In the end, Australia’s opening innings ended earlier than most anticipated. Here’s how Day 1’s performances looked for both teams:
Australian key batters’ score:
| Australian Batsman | Runs | Balls Faced |
| Travis Head | 59 | 78 |
| Usman Khawaja | 47 | 128 |
| Pat Cummins | 28 | 18 |
Australian key bowlers’ score:
| Australian Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
| Starc | 10 | 46 | 2 |
| Hazlewood | 14 | 35 | 5 |
| Cummins (c) | 5 | 25 | 0 |
West Indies’ key bowlers’ score:
| West Indies Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
| Jayden Seales | 15.5 | 60 | 5 |
| Shamar Joseph | 16 | 46 | 4 |
West Indies’ key batters’ score:
| West Indies Batsman | Runs | Balls Faced |
| Brandon King | 23 | 31 |
| Roston Chase | 1 | 10 |
Australia finished their first innings with a total of 180 runs. This was a lower score than they had hoped for. Then, it was the West Indies’ turn to bat. They aimed to build a strong reply. However, Australia’s bowlers quickly struck back. Mitchell Starc led from the front, bowling with pace and accuracy. He removed both West Indies openers, Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell, early. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood supported him well, picking up further wickets.
The West Indies batsman found scoring difficult. They lost crucial wickets before the stumps. Keacy Carty tried to consolidate, but also departed. Nightwatchman Jomel Warrican then fell for a duck. But Australia’s bowlers were relentless. They bowled in excellent areas. They put the batsmen under constant pressure.
At the close of play on Day 1, the West Indies had lost four wickets. They faced a significant challenge. West Indies ended Day 1 at 57 runs for 4 wickets. They still needed 123 runs to reach Australia’s first-innings total.
In summary, Day 1 truly set the stage for an exciting test. Both teams showed great determination. The match hangs in the balance. We can expect more thrilling cricket in the days to come. The Australia vs West Indies 1st Test has already delivered unexpected turns, promising a captivating contest ahead.
