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St George’s: Beau Webster and Alex Carey once again navigated Australia to safety against West Indies after another alarming top order collapse and a brain fade from Cameron Green on the last ball before lunch on the opening day of the second Test.
By tea on Thursday (Friday morning AEST), Australia were 5-209 from 48 overs, with Webster (43) and Carey (51) unbeaten at the crease on a rain-interrupted first day in Grenada.
Alex Carey celebrates with partner Beau Webster scoring a half-century against the West Indies during day one of the second cricket Test match.Credit: AP
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Australia had a golden chance to pile on the runs in their quest for a 2-0 series win.
Things were going beautifully through Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja, with Australia at 0-47 and in complete control.
What ensued was a calamitous period as Australia lost 3-3 in 15 balls.
Khawaja (16) was unable to overturn his lbw decision to Alzarri Joseph, while Konstas tried to drive Anderson Phillip, the West Indies’ new pace bowler, to the cover boundary but got a thick edge to wicketkeeper Shai Hope.
When Steve Smith was brilliantly caught at fine leg by Phillip for three in his comeback match from a nasty finger injury, Australia were in strife 3-50.
With five balls remaining until the lunch interval, Green was dropped at short cover by John Campbell in inexcusable fashion.
Instead of regathering his composure and doing everything in his power to dig it out until the break, Green chased a wide ball and edged to gully for 26 on the final ball of the session, leaving Australia precariously placed at 4-93.
It was an ugly dismissal, given the context of the match, and particularly so for a batsman with scores of 4, 0, 3 and 15 since the World Test Championship final.
When Travis Head was caught sharply by Hope for 29 off the bowling of Shamar Joseph, the tourists were on shaky ground at 5-110.
Much like Australia’s second innings in the first Test in Barbados, Webster and Carey steadied the ship by putting on 99 runs for the sixth wicket heading into the tea break.
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Both look so assured in their game and made the most of a ball that lost its swing and bowlers who started fading in warm conditions as the day went on.
Carey brought up his second half century of the tour from 68 balls with an outside edge through the slips. Webster’s outstanding start to international cricket continued with a measured innings that has featured six boundaries, mostly through point or behind square.
Alzarri Joseph (2-40 from 10) has been the pick of the West Indies bowlers.
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