Calypso collapses not good for Tests
Two distinct batting collapses by the West Indies batting line-up against a little-known group of Australian bowlers provided a bleak outlook for the upcoming Test series against the world champion next week.
Fears of a significant imbalance between the tourists and Australia were raised when the West Indies announced a squad with seven players yet to play Test cricket for the two-match series, which starts in Adelaide on Wednesday.
In what will be their only warm-up match, those fears were realised as the tourists lost 3-3 in one collapse, then 4-8 late on the opening day of their clash with a Cricket Australia XI loaded with statebased bowlers who do not have Big Bash contracts.
With the likes of former captain Jason Holder opting against making the trip to Australia to focus his energies on preparing for the T20 World Cup being played in the West Indies and US later in 2024, skipper Kraigg Brathwaite has been handed an almighty task of competing against the Australians.
Braithwaite showed some fight making 52 with uncapped duo Kavem Hodge and Justin Greaves enhancing their hopes of a Test debut, scoring 52 and 62 respectively.
But they were the exception with short-pitched bowling proving the undoing of toporder batters Kirk McKenzie and Alick Athanaze, with Brathwaite also dismissed trying to paddle-sweep Victorian spinner Doug Warren in a half-hearted shot that capped the first collapse.
Then, after Hodge and Greaves showed significant poise to get the tourists to 4-223, the batters compounded against the second new ball, and declared their innings close at 8-251, with West Australian seamer Liam Haskett snaring 3-57.
The West Indies will have to field at least three debutants in next Wednesday’s first Test in Adelaide, having been defeated convincingly in two Tests in Australia last summer, with only five players from that tour returning.