Test Cricket
The second cricket test between West Indies and Australia in Trinidad continued to hold the promise of a result with Australia getting bowled out for 311 in their first innings. Michael Hussey top scored for the visitors making a combative 73, taking advantage of having been dropped early in his innings on the first day. The veteran left-hander shared an 89 run stand for the 7th wicket with young quickie James Pattinson (32) before Kemar Roach struck before tea to skittle out the Aussies. Roach, who has been exceptionally unlucky in this series thus far, did finally pick up a 5-fer, finishing with figures of 5-105 from 27 overs. The West Indies though flittered away their advantage with their top order once again collapsing early in their innings. At the close of play the hosts had made their way to 49/3 with all hopes resting on the incumbent duo of Darren Bravo (14*) and old warhorse Shivnarine Chanderpaul (1*).
Resuming from their overnight score 208/5, the Aussies lost wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade in just the 2nd over of the morning for no additional score. The left-hander nicked a good delivery from Roach through to Darren Bravo at first slip. There was to be no more reward for the West Indies in a rain interrupted first session with Michael Hussey (54) and James Pattinson (21) seeing their side through to the interval at 267/6 with the weather forcing an early lunch.
The opening day of the 2nd Test between the West Indies and Australia went the way of the hosts as the Aussies crawled to 208/5 in the 90 overs played. After a blistering start, run scoring was hard on a turning pitch, with suggestions that anything above 300 could be an excellent first innings score. Shane Watson made a patient 56 to top score for the Aussies, and shared a useful partnership with Michael Clarke, who was unfortunate to fall for 45. Shane Shillingford was the pick of the West Indies bowlers and probably deserved more than the two wickets he had to show for his efforts at the end of the day. Michael Hussey and Matthew Wade saw their team through to the close of play, and how many runs Australia are able to conjure up tomorrow could well depend on them.
The West Indies batting undid a praiseworthy first innings effort with a poor 15 minutes of batting in the second innings, an effort that cost them the match. Although there are unlikely to be many changes in the team for this game, the batting will need to step up against the odds if the Windies are to challenge for the series. The top five in Kraigg Brathwaite, Adrian Barath, Kirk Edwards, Darren Bravo and Shivnarine Chanderpaul will keep their places while the youngster Kieran Powell will challenge Narsingh Deonarine for his spot. Deonarine though might well keep his place, thanks to his handy bowling ability.
Ben Hilfenhaus and Ryan Harris, who saw Australia home to a three wickets win against the West Indies with the bat in Bridgetown, Barbados, have achieved their highest-ever bowling ratings in the latest Reliance ICC Test Rankings.
