In the fourth over of West Indies’ batting, Roston Chase hit a shot off Jason Behrendorff’s delivery and sprinted for a single. The mid-off fielder caught the ball and smashed it directly to the stumps. The Australian players took a second to argue for a run-out after the ball struck the stumps directly.

However, Chase was well within the crease and was pronounced not out by the third umpire. The rationale for Australia’s appeal was that during the second T20I, the hosts missed the opportunity to run out Alzarri Joseph because Spencer Johnson did not appeal.

In terms of the contest, the West Indies had a disastrous start after winning the toss and deciding to bat, losing three wickets in the first three overs.

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Russell (71 off 29 balls) and Rutherford (unbeaten 67 off 40) led the fightback, each scoring their greatest T20 scores in a 139-run stand.

Spinner Adam Zampa went for 1-65 from four overs, his highest total in T20s, while Russell cracked 28 off his last over.

With speed spearhead Josh Hazlewood rested, Xavier Bartlett made his debut following a strong start to his one-day career against the Caribbean side this month.

Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Jason Behrendorff, Tim David, Josh Hazlewood, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

West Indies: Rovman Powell (c), Shai Hope, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Oshane Thomas.

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Powell changed his strategy after Australia scored massive total batting first to win the series in Hobart and Adelaide.

Kyle Mayers and Roston Chase have been named all-rounders, but hitters Brandon King and Shai Hope have been left out.

Following his impressive start to ODI cricket, Bartlett has been picked alongside allrounder Aaron Hardie, who will play in front of his local fans. Australia chose not to give explosive batter Jake Fraser-McGurk his T20I debut after he was added to the team.

Skipper Mitchell Marsh has been picked to open with David Warner, with Josh Inglis moving down to No. 4 and Hardie at No. 3 as Australia look to sweep the series to round off their home summer.

Perth has been in the grip of a heatwave, with temperatures expected to reach 35 degrees before the match begins. A gathering of around 15,000 is expected.

Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 3 Aaron Hardie, 4 Josh Inglis, 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Tim David, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Adam Zampa, 9 Xavier Bartlett, 10 Spencer Johnson, 11 Jason Behrendorff

West Indies 1 Kyle Mayers, 2 Johnson Charles, 3 Nicholas Pooran (wk), 4 Roston Chase, 5Rovman Powell (capt), 6 Sherfane Rutherford, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Jason Holder, 9 Romario Shepherd, 10 Akeal Hosein, 11 Alzarri Joseph

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Maxwell smashed eight sixes against a full-strength West Indies in ideal batting conditions, and his unbeaten 120 runs off 55 balls was the second greatest T20I score for a player at No.4 or below.

Australia’s 241 for 4 was their biggest score on home soil and proved much too much for the West Indies, despite skipper Rovman Powell’s impressive 63 off 36 balls.

Marcus Stoinis picked up three wickets, while left-arm fast Spencer Johnson, in his first home international, grabbed 2 for 39 as Australia claimed the series with an 11-run game one victory at Bellerive Oval.

There was some late dispute when Alzarri Joseph fell short of his ground while trying a tight single, but he stayed at the crease as umpire Gerard Abood ruled there was no appeal. Tim David maintained he had appealed as Australia argued in heated circumstances, but the incident had no effect on the outcome of the match.

The series has essentially started both sides’ T20 World Cup preparations, with the third and final game scheduled on Tuesday in Perth.

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Marsh dominates the powerplay before Maxi Magic

Josh Inglis started brilliantly in Hobart, kicking off the competition to join opener David Warner in the T20 World Cup. He smashed 39 off 25 balls in the series opener but couldn’t recover, falling for 4 in the second over.

The ejection sent captain Mitchell Marsh to the crease, who did not bat on the powerplay in game one and played despite testing positive for Covid-19. He was feeling better and enjoyed batting in the powerplay, scoring 29 off 12 balls.

He blasted the opening ball boundary before unleashing his power with a six over backward point and another over the legside boundary. Marsh, attempting to exploit the powerplay, holed out in the sixth over, and Australia was quickly reduced to 64 for 3 when Warner was bowled in the following over.

Maxwell got off to a poor start and should have been run out on 10 when wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran missed a short ball at the stumps. He took advantage of the following ball from Romario Shepherd, hitting an amazing sliced six over cover point to start his innings.

Joseph bowls quickly, but West Indies fall behind

Despite his attack surrendering 213 for 7 at Bellerive Oval, Powell elected to bowl again, but he bizarrely went first with Hosein, who was hammered for six on the second delivery by a reverse swat from Warner.

However, their seamers fared considerably better against Warner, who had hammered 70 off 36 balls in Hobart, as they bowled a straighter line, with Joseph creating swing and reaching speeds approaching 150 km/h. A disgruntled Warner grumbled loudly as he dropped to a slower Shepherd delivery, but the West Indies were subsequently destroyed by Maxwell.

With Maxwell in his temper, the West Indies were made to appear helpless, and there was probably nothing they could do. However, several of their tactics were perplexing, such as frequently bowling wide yorkers without a third man.

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Xavier Bartlett was the wrecker in chief again, finishing with 4/21. He won Player of the Match and Player of the Series for taking eight wickets in two games. Batting first, the West Indies were all over the place, with Alick Athanaze’s 32 the only half-decent performance. The second best is Roston Chase’s 12, followed by Shai Hope’s ten.

Australia barely broke a sweat while hunting it down. Jake Fraser-McGurk and Aaron Hardie were two wickets down for the Aussies before Steve Josh Inglis and Steve Smith finished the job.

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Here are the top five shortest men’s one-day internationals of all time:
1 Nepal beat USA by 8 wickets in 104 balls in 2020.

2 Sri Lanka defeated Zimbabwe by nine wickets in 120 balls in 2001.

3 India defeated Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in 129 balls – 2023.

4 Sri Lanka defeated Canada by 9 wickets in 140 balls – 2003.

5 Sri Lanka defeated Zimbabwe by nine wickets in 164 balls in 2004.

England also beat India by 7 runs in an ODI in 1985, which was finished in 180 balls. However, it is not being included because the contest was just 15 overs each side.

“It was nice to have a taste of international cricket and finish with a series triumph. It was an incredible experience; I always wanted to contribute to a victory. There was some pressure, but I tried to enjoy it, and luckily it worked out. Just trying to attack and get some wickets. Definitely swinging well. Cannot go passed your first one. It’s a pleasure to be a part of this group, which includes many debutants as well as folks you’ve previously played with and against. “Many thanks to everyone, especially Queensland Cricket,” Bartlett remarked after the match.

The post Record Alert: Australia’s Historic Victory in Shortest Home ODI Against West Indies appeared first on Cricket Country.

After a shaky first three innings as David Warner’s replacement in the top order, the 34-year-old nearly got Australia over the line to avert a dramatic eight-run defeat at the Gabba.

Smith, who has struck 27 of his 32 Test hundreds at No.3 or No.4, says he did not overthink his approach to opening.

After scores of 12, 11 not out and six, the star batter belted an unbeaten 91 in Australia’s second innings on Sunday and feels “comfortable” as an opener.

“There was a lot of commentary around I’d failed in two or three innings – I had a not out and two low scores,” Smith said at the MCG on Wednesday. “Now I’m averaging 60 as an opener.

“It was just another position; I’ve battled against the new ball numerous times, coming in early. I’ve enjoyed the first couple of weeks of it…if they see fit to move me back down, I’ll do whatever the team needs.”

Smith, the first Australian to carry his bat since Warner in 2011, was the lone player to face West Indies’ newest pace phenom Shamar Joseph. The 24-year-old ripped through Australia, taking 7 for 68 to lead the tourists to their first Test victory down under since 1997.

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Adding to the legendary list, Joseph bowled in the second innings of his second Test with a terrible toe injury, forcing him to return to the Caribbean and miss Warner’s ILT20 with the Dubai Capitals.

“I overheard a conversation, I think we were seven down just before lunch and I overheard him speaking to [West Indies captain] Kraigg [Brathwaite]… he’s [Joseph] like, ‘I’m bowling to the end, man’,” Smith said.

“He’s a rare talent and I think it’s great for cricket what he was able to do and see the West Indies competing like they did. He just kept coming in, and actually probably bowled faster at the end rather than the start.”

Smith also justified his choice to give No.11 Josh Hazlewood two balls against Joseph in what turned out to be the match’s final over.

Hazlewood was Joseph’s final victim, igniting loud and jubilant West Indies celebrations as they pulled off probably the greatest Test upset in history.

“I’ve thought about it, whether we could do different things,” Smith admitted. “Maybe I could have taken five balls against Shamar; he was on fire obviously. But then I run the risk of not getting a run off the last ball and ‘Hoff’ [Hazlewood] having to take all six from Alzarri.”

Smith will lead Australia in the three-match ODI series which starts at the MCG on Friday.

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The post Aus vs Wi: Shamar Joseph Remember the Name | Match Highlights | AUS vs WI | appeared first on Cricket Country.

Hogg had commented last week, saying, “Let’s not beat around the bush: They were hopeless (in Adelaide).” He suggested having two divisions due to weaker teams. Brathwaite disagreed, stating that Mitchell Starc with a new pink ball wouldn’t be a threat. He defended his team and challenged Hogg’s perception, highlighting the difference from the West Indies’ dominant past to the present.

After West Indies’ win in the second Test, Brathwaite acknowledged Hogg’s words, revealing they served as inspiration. He expressed the team’s determination to prove they are not “pathetic” and questioned Hogg about the size of their muscles.

Brathwaite emphasized the significance of the win, especially after many years without a Test victory in Australia. He conveyed a message to the team, stating that while they celebrate this success, it marks the beginning, and they need to continue their positive momentum.

Regarding Joseph’s performance, Brathwaite praised him as a “superstar” and expressed confidence in his future contributions to West Indies cricket.

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Even some Australian cricket fans embraced the win, recalling the days when the West Indies ruled the global series. On social media and other channels, a few people who were a part of those sides and some of the greats who happened to play during the unfortunately declining West Indies era shared their satisfaction.

Batting great and former captain Brian Lara was part of the Fox Cricket commentary panel when Shamar Joseph took the last Australian wicket and he was in tears as the West Indies celebrated. “It’s unbelievable. 27 years to beat Australia in Australia. Young, inexperienced, written off… this West Indies team and West Indies cricket can stand tall today. Today is a big day for West Indies cricket,” he said.

Both Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo, who went on to have great careers as Test players and West Indies leaders before becoming trailblazing T20 players, expressed their joy on Instagram as well. Former West Indies white ball captains Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard also responded to the historic event. Tagging Joseph, Pooran said, “What a day. Unreal Stuff” on Instagram. “Team Work. Congratulations all,” said Pollard on his Instagram page.

Early on day four of the day-night second test, Australia was comfortably on their way to victory at 216. However, an injured Joseph, playing in his first test series, came to the field and stunned the world champions with an explosive display of fast bowling. The 24-year-old saved his best for last, sprinting across the Gabba outfield and pumping his chest in celebration with his teammates after uprooting tailender Josh Hazlewood (0). The victory comes at a time when West Indies cricket is otherwise at an all-time low, having missed out on qualifying for the 50-over World Cup in 2023. Joseph, a native of Guyana, who famously got Smith caught in Adelaide off his opening ball in a test match, has been signed by Dubai Capitals for the International League T20 tournament.

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Joseph’s outstanding stats of 7/68 turned out to be the game-winning performance, and he also claimed Josh Hazlewood’s last wicket. The 24-year-old sent off a complete delivery that was right off the stump. Hazlewood attempted to block it, but was unable to make contact as it struck the off stump. As the Windies players trailed Joseph all the way to the boundary ropes, amazing sights transpired. The pacer celebrated by throwing his arms wide apart and taking off at full speed.

After being struck on the toe by a Mitchell Starc yorker and needing assistance leaving the pitch, he was expected to remain sidelined. However, he claimed seven wickets and guided his team to a historic victory on Day 4.

Australia had 216 to win, and they were the favourites. They got off to a great start, and after an hour, Steve Smith and Cameron Green both appeared to be in control. For the West Indies, Joseph opened things up by getting rid of Green and Travis Head off consecutive balls.

Joseph took four wickets after the drinks break as well. After a brief cameo, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, or Pat Cummins failed to hold on, and Starc collapsed. At the other end of the Australian batting order, Smith was the lone wolf.

West Indies needed just two wickets to force an extension in the first session. However, Nathan Lyon started to stick around, and it appeared that Australia was taking the lead. Alzarri Joseph took out Lyon just when it appeared that Australia was playing at a fantastic tempo, which put all the burden on Smith. Shamar Joseph returned and completed the task necessary to write a historic victory.

West Indies Test squad for Australia tour: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Alzarri Joseph (vice-captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves, Joshua DaSilva, Akeem Jordan, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Kevin Sinclai, Tevin Imlach, Shamar Joseph, Zachary McCaskie.

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc.

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Ahead of just 3,162 spectators in Brisbane on Sunday, the hosts were comfortably leading 2-113 in the opening session of the fourth day as they looked to win the series 2-0.

Then, second-gamer Shamar Joseph (7-68) opened the floodgates by taking six wickets in an amazing 10-over performance, despite having had his toe shattered by a Mitchell Starc yorker the previous evening.

In his second Test as an opener, Steve Smith (91 not out) carried his bat and initiated a daring rescue attempt. However, Joseph would not be defeated. In amazing circumstances, he ran towards the boundary and sent Josh Hazlewood’s stumps flying for his seventh wicket, forcing a 1-1 tie in the series.

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Reaching a peak speed of about 150 km/h, Joseph was able to find life with an old pink ball that had given Australia’s batters little trouble in the past. He started the collapse by bowling Travis Head (42) and Cameron Green (42) with successive deliveries.

Head became just the seventh Australian to register a king pair with his golden duck, which was his third consecutive in Test matches at the Gabba. In a frenzied six-over session that also cost 45 runs, Alex Carey (two) became Joseph’s fourth victim after Smith survived the hat-trick ball but Mitchell Marsh (10) did not last much longer.

But Joseph wasn’t finished, as Starc (21 off 14) became his sixth wicket in as many overs, capping an Australian quick’s fleeting appearance that included four boundaries.

When captain Pat Cummins came to the crease ten minutes before the tea break, Australia still needed 45 to win. Cummins had scorched an unbeaten career-best 64 in the first innings before declaring 22 short of the West Indies’ first-innings 311 total. After trailing for just three, Nathan Lyon managed to hold on until halftime, with Australia needing 29 more runs to win and finish a 5-0 summer sweep.

Lyon fell in the first over after the resumption, but Smith continued to counter-attack as he spectacularly ramped a six as the target went into single figures. But he exposed Hazlewood once too often and Joseph clattered the stumps once more to cap an incredible solo performance.

Joseph said he thought he’d struggle to even be at the ground after being forced to retire hurt on Saturday night, until chatting to the team doctor. “He did something to my toe, I don’t know what he did,” Joseph said. “I feel that we’ve won the series, even though it’s 1-1. I already cried after my five-wicket haul … I’m not that tired; I told my skipper today I’d bowl today until the last wicket fell.”

West Indies Test squad for Australia tour: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Alzarri Joseph (vice-captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves, Joshua DaSilva, Akeem Jordan, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Kevin Sinclai, Tevin Imlach, Shamar Joseph, Zachary McCaskie.

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc.

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