Australia Launches Counter-Attack Against West Indies with Dominant Half-Centuries from Carey and Cummins

Australia’s fightback in the day-night test against West Indies on Day 2 was led by blistering half-centuries from Alex Carey and captain Pat Cummins. Despite still trailing by 22, Cummins declared Australia’s first innings at 289-9 after Carey’s aggressive innings of 65 off 49 balls. The decision to let fast bowlers bowl with the pink ball under lights proved effective.

Mitchell Starc’s early attempts almost dismissed West Indies’ captain Kraigg Brathwaite, but a dropped catch by Steve Smith spared him. In the last over of the day, Josh Hazlewood found a faint edge from Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s bat as West Indies reached 13-1 at stumps, holding an overall lead of 35 runs.

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Usman Khawaja, named ICC test player of the year 2023, contributed a meaningful 75 runs after West Indies set a first-innings total of 311. Carey’s aggressive partnership with Khawaja helped Australia recover from a shaky start, with the duo adding 96 runs.

Despite a close call for Carey, who survived a pacey delivery that kissed the off bail but stayed in its groove, his counterattacking innings ended with a catch at deep square leg off Shamar Jospeh. Cummins continued the aggression, forming another fruitful partnership of 81 with Khawaja.

Kirk McKenzie’s missed run-out opportunity cost West Indies as Cummins, with eight fours and a straight six off Roach, accelerated the scoring. Khawaja’s dismissal came when he edged debutant spinner Kevin Sinclair in the slips, but Cummins made a rapid 47 runs with Nathan Lyon before declaring when Lyon edged Alazarri Joseph behind.

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Australia faced early struggles as Smith failed again as an opener, and the team collapsed to 24-4 in the first session. Roach claimed Smith’s wicket lbw on review, and Labuschagne was caught in the next over. West Indies continued their success with Cameron Green and Travis Head’s dismissals, leaving Roach on a hat trick before the break.

In the first innings, a debut half-century by offspinning all-rounder Kevin Sinclair lifted West Indies to a competitive total. Sinclair and veteran paceman Roach added 31 for the ninth wicket as West Indies reached 266-8.