Australia Wins 1st Test Against West Indies in Three Days

Australia trounced West Indies in the first Test of the two-match series by nine wickets within three days. Australia retained their record as they remain undefeated in the Frank Worrell Trophy in more than two decades. 

Adam Voges was awarded the man of the match, as his century in the first innings of the Test match pulled up the Aussie innings after an early slump. He became the third oldest batsman to score a century on a debut Test match.

West Indies were bundled for 148 runs in the first innings on Day 1 after the Caribbean skipper Denesh Ramdin won the toss and decided to bat first. Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood picked up eight wickets together to demolish the West Indies batting order.

Later in the day when the Aussies came out to bat, they lost their openers David Warner and Shaun Marsh earlier than they had expected. Skipper Michael Clarke too followed them and Australia were down to 85 for three at the end of Day 1. Steven Smith was dismissed early on Day 2 as he failed to deal with the turn that Devendra Bishoo was getting and was stumped for 25 runs. The rest of the batting order failed to deliver apart from one man (Voges) who turn the game for the Aussies single-handedly.

Voges and Hazlewood frustrated the hosts as they put 94 runs together to give Australia a commendable lead of 170 runs on a pitch that was assisting the bowlers right from Day 1. It was surely a tough ask for the West Indies batsmen to surpass that lead. The opening batsmen Kraigg Braithwaite and Shai Hope were dismissed early by Johnson and Starc leaving the Caribbeans reeling at 25 for two at the end of Day 2.

The Aussie pacers were troubling the West Indies batsmen right from the word go on Day 3 as Darren Bravo was sent back to the pavilion early by Hazlewood. Marlon Samuels and Shane Dorwich held their nerves and pulled West Indies out of danger after an early slump. Dorwich and Samuels added 144 runs in tandem, where both of them scored gritty half centuries until Dorwich was dismissed by Hazlewood. And thereafter the floodgates were opened. Samuels was dismissed soon after Dorwich departed and West Indies lost their last five wickets in just 18 runs.

Starc was the star of the Aussie pace attack as he picked up four wickets. Johnson, Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon picked a brace each to seal the West Indies innings on 216 runs and with a slender lead of 46 runs. The upbeat Aussies finished the game in just 5 overs as Warner and Marsh went off to a flier. However Warner was dismissed for 28 runs from just 20 balls by Jerome Taylor and after Warner departed, it was just the matter of time for the Aussies to romp to victory.