5 d. ago Brian Lara names the best bowler he faced during glittering West Indies career

Lara referenced both Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne when speaking about the toughest bowlers he came up against

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5 d. ago Brutal Mitchell Starc spell one to remember amid Australia batters’ tour to forget | Geoff Lemon

The left-arm fast bowler claimed a record-breaking six-wicket haul in the third Test against the West Indies to celebrate his milestone match in styleModern sport reporting casually reaches for words like “brutality” and “carnage” where their usage even as metaphor is overblown. The end of the third Test in Kingston, though, warranted both. Australia’s fast bowlers destroyed West Indies for 27, a single run higher than the lowest innings score in Test history.The batting lasted 14.3 overs, the third-shortest innings on record. Mitchell Starc, curling the pink Dukes ball, took 6 for 9. Scott Boland’s 3 for 2 came in the form of a hat-trick. It was a sporting annihilation, the lowest West Indies total ever by 20 runs, worse than any time during the struggles of their earliest years or their recent decades. Australia swept the series 3-0. Continue reading...

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5 d. ago West Indies bowled out for second lowest score in Test history as records tumble in Australia win

The pace bowler took six for nine as the hosts narrowly avoided an embarrassing new low.

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6 d. ago Scott Boland strikes on Australia return as West Indies suffer dramatic collapse

Third Test, day two: Australia 225; West Indies 143 at dinnerFast bowler takes three wickets as hosts lose 61 for 7 at Sabina ParkAustralia’s top order are set to face a tough final examination in the West Indies, after the hosts were bowled out for 143 at dinner on day two of the third Test in Jamaica.Scott Boland justified his call up ahead of Nathan Lyon with three wickets, while Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood claimed two each as Australia took an 82-run lead. Continue reading...

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3 w. ago Beau Webster’s dependability should give heart to Australia’s Test hopefuls new and old

Sam Konstas has been backed to open again and can look to Webster’s example of composure and calm at the creaseAustralia’s bowlers rescued the first Test against West Indies in Barbados, so the team will be relieved to welcome back blue-chip batter Steve Smith for the second Test in Grenada. In London a fortnight ago, a fielding mishap looked like it had caused Smith’s finger a horrific break, but instead the injury was a dislocation, and it has settled well enough for him to come safely through a net session in New York City. Smith will rejoin the team in Barbados on Sunday, with a final fitness check the day before the next fixture starting on 3 July.Australian coach Andrew McDonald confirmed that Smith will slot straight back in at his preferred No 4 spot when available, which will mean that Josh Inglis has to make way after filling in and returning a rare failure with the bat in Australian colours. There are no other spots available, after McDonald backed Sam Konstas to open and...

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3 w. ago Bowling attack bails out Australian batters with first Test in West Indies finely balanced

Day two: Australia 180 & 92-4; West Indies 190 | Australia lead by 82Beau Webster impresses with two wickets in fight backThe wheel turned as the wheel so often has in Australia’s Tests the last couple of years: the batters under-delivered, the bowlers made it right. With the team having been bowled out for 180 on the first day of the first Test against West Indies in Barbados, Australia’s quicks turned around and returned the favour, keeping West Indies to 190, the lead to 10, and making the match a one-innings shootout in an often chaotic day. The second Australian batting effort then stuttered to 65-4, before improving the score by stumps to 92, a lead of 82.Spare yet another thought for Shamar Joseph. In three career outings against Australia, the West Indies pace prodigy has been a bowling Mozart, but he runs towards a slip cordon with more drops than Tiësto. In the first innings after getting Sam Konstas lbw, his notional catchers put down chances from Cameron Green and Us...

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3 w. ago Australia’s top order stutters again to leave first Test in West Indies finely balanced

Day two: Australia 180 & 92-4; West Indies 190 | Australia lead by 82Beau Webster impresses with ball to keep West Indies in checkThe wheel turned as the wheel so often has in Australia’s Tests the last couple of years: the batters under-delivered, the bowlers made it right. With the team having been bowled out for 180 on the first day of the first Test against West Indies in Barbados, Australia’s quicks turned around and returned the favour, keeping West Indies to 190, the lead to 10, and making the match a one-innings shootout in an often chaotic day. The second Australian batting effort then stuttered to 65-4, before improving the score by stumps to 92, a lead of 82.Spare yet another thought for Shamar Joseph. In three career outings against Australia, the West Indies pace prodigy has been a bowling Mozart, but he runs towards a slip cordon with more drops than Tiësto. In the first innings after getting Sam Konstas lbw, his notional catchers put down chances from Cameron Gree...

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3 w. ago Australia regain initiative as West Indies dismissed for 190

Hosts rue controversial dismissals at crucial momentsBeau Webster impresses with two wickets in fight backAustralia’s bowlers have hit back after a poor morning session to bowl out West Indies for 190 and regain the initiative in an absorbing and fluctuating first Test at Bridgetown.But while the hosts grabbed a 10-run first-innings lead, they were again left unimpressed by two controversial dismissals of their key batters, captain Roston Chase and white-ball skipper Shai Hope, which may have tipped the game in Australia’s favour. Continue reading...

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