The second Test against the West Indies is headed for a thrilling finale after Australia defied the tricky conditions on a rain-affected third day at Grenada’s National Cricket Stadium.
Steve Smith and Cameron Green cracked fifties to rebuild Australia’s innings following the previous evening’s top-order collapse, with a double blow from all-rounder Justin Greaves in the evening session giving the West Indies a sniff at an unlikely comeback.
The tourists are 7-221 at stumps, leading by 254 runs, with wicketkeeper Alex Carey (26*) and captain Pat Cummins (4*) unbeaten overnight,
The match will resume on Sunday at 11.30pm AEST.
Australia's Steve Smith. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
‘AT ANOTHER LEVEL’: SMITH VANQUISHES FIRST-INNINGS DEMONS
With Steve Smith donning a splint on the little finger on his right hand, it was inevitable that the West Indies fast bowlers would target him with some bouncers this week.
The 36-year-old missed last week’s Frank Worrell Trophy series opener due to a finger injury he sustained during last month’s World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s, watching Australia’s victory from his apartment in New York.
During the first innings in St. George’s, Smith was dismissed after top-edging a short delivery from paceman Alzarri Joseph, caught at deep fine leg for 3. West Indies bowling coach Ravi Rampaul later confirmed the team had formulated a plan to pepper the New South Welshman with bumpers and test his vulnerable finger.
The first delivery that Smith faced on day three was another bouncer from Joseph, on this occasion hitting him flush on the glove. He threw his head back and grimaced in pain, removing his glove to inspect the splint on his finger.
Despite the early scare and his day-one dismissal, Smith was still willing to play the pull shot, later slapping a short ball from speedster Shamar Joseph through deep square leg.
The West Indies bowlers continued producing bouncers from over and around the wicket — but the Australian vice-captain was unfazed by the bumper barrage, at one stage attempting a ramp shot.
Smith looked in sublime touch at Grenada’s National Cricket Stadium on Saturday, showing the Australians what they were missing in Barbados last week with a stylish 71. Gesticulating between deliveries, the right-hander quickly adapted to the unpredictable surface by adjusting his stance, setting up on middle stump and discarding his trademark shuffle across the crease.
He cracked an assortment of elegant cover drives whenever the West Indies bowlers overpitched and offered width, also thumping rival skipper Roston Chase down the ground for six.
Smith was in complete control — it was almost as though he was batting on a different pitch.
Australia's Steve Smith. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
“He’s looking ominous on a surface where a lot of people have struggled,” former Australian batter Greg Blewett said in commentary.
“He’s just got this unbelievable belief that he’s going to make runs whenever he bats.
“Smith’s looked dynamite as soon as he went out there ... he’s been at another level really.
“He’s an absolute magician.”
Former West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite continued: “Steve Smith has proven why he is one of, if not, the best batter in our generation.”
Smith, dismissed by West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves early in the evening session, boasts a phenomenal record against the West Indies in Tests, accumulating 946 runs at 105.11.
‘WE’VE BEEN PUNISHED’: GRAPHIC PROVES WINDIES GOT IT WRONG
The West Indies fast bowlers copped “some stick” from the team analysts after failing to capitalise on the pace-friendly conditions on day three in St. George’s.
The Australians were in deep trouble at 3-28 when Smith joined Cameron Green in the middle on Saturday morning, with the fresh Dukes ball still hooping around corners and seaming on the inconsistent deck.
However, the West Indies quicks rarely targeted the pegs during the first hour of play, often hitting the channel outside off stump short of a good length.
“I haven’t seen too many balls this morning that are hitting the stumps,” Blewett said in commentary.
“On a surface like this, you’ve really got to hone in on those stumps and use that variation.
“For me, just not enough balls close to the stumps ... they’ve just been a little bit wide this morning.”
None of the deliveries the West Indies bowlers produced during the first ten overs of the day would have hit the stumps, including when nightwatcher Nathan Lyon was at the crease.
“With that new ball, the West Indies just missed a trick,” Blewett continued.
By the time the West Indies had adjusted their lines, the Dukes ball had softened and lost its shine, allowing Green and Smith to settle in the middle and push Australia’s lead into triple figures.
“As long as we’ve been off the stumps, we’ve been punished,” West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves confessed at stumps.
“We’ve gotten some stick for it from our analysts on the inside. We need to bowl straighter.
“We really need to tighten up.”
‘WORLD OF GOOD’: GREEN REWARDS SELECTORS’ FAITH
Cameron Green was under immense pressure heading into the Grenada Test.
Having been elevated to No. 3 following his long-awaited Test return last month, the West Australian initially failed to validate his promotion, posting scores of 0, 4, 15 and 3 at first drop. He had reached fifty just once in his 20 most recent Test knocks, dating back to June 2023.
Green showed signs of improvement during the first innings in St. George’s, but a promising 26 wasn’t enough to win over his sceptics.
However, the right-hander produced a crucial knock of 52 on Saturday to not only revive Australia’s innings, but also demonstrate he has the makings of a long-term Test No. 3.
After surviving a tricky passage of play late on day two, the 26-year-old anchored the Australian innings and formed a 93-run partnership for the fourth wicket alongside Steve Smith.
Runs weren’t easy to come by for the watchful Green, who needed 122 deliveries to reach fifty, but the West Australian remained patient on the volatile deck, gradually extending the lead alongside Smith.
“He left the ball well outside off stump,” former West Indies spinner Samuel Badree said in commentary.
“You can see that deep desire for him to get a good score.
“The way he constructed this innings was really significant. He absorbed a lot of pressure, he faced a lot of deliveries.
“There has been a lot of talk, a lot of conjecture about his place at No. 3. I think today has settled a lot of that and will do him a world of good.”
Later in the afternoon session, Green was dismissed by West Indies quick Shamar Joseph the delivery after chopping an ill-judged cut shot back onto his stumps, a rare lapse in concentration. Knowing he had blown a chance to put Australia in an unassailable position, Green cursed himself and threw his bat on the ground, kicking it away in disgust.
Even though he couldn’t convert his fifty into triple figures, national selectors will feel reassured that Green can succeed at No. 3 in the Test side.
However, he’s still a work in progress, with former West Indies bowler Ian Bishop calling for Green to continue improving in Jamaica next week.
“I need to see more,” Bishop said.
“I need to see him build on this.”
Blewett continued: “I’m not sure whether he’s a long-term No. 3 for Australia, but at the moment he’s doing a reasonable job.”
‘HINDSIGHT IS 20-20’: WINDIES SELECTION GAMBLE BACKFIRES
Ahead of the Grenada Test, the West Indies selectors took a massive gamble by dropping vice-captain Jomel Warrican to make room for an additional pace bowler in the starting XI.
Unfortunately for the hosts, the decision backfired in St. George’s on Saturday, with Warrican’s services sorely missed.
Australia’s spinners claimed four wickets during the first innings, proving that tweakers could cause some damage on the tricky surface. But for the West Indies, their best spin bowler was carrying the drinks.
Meanwhile, fast bowler Anderson Phillip, recalled for the second Test ahead of Warrican, finished the day with figures of 0-32 from nine overs.
“In hindsight you’d love Warrican bowling on this track,” former West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite said in commentary.
“But hindsight is 20-20.”
Caribbean decks have favoured spin this season — in the West Indies’ domestic first-class competition, the four leading wicket-takers have all been slow bowlers, including Warrican with 32 scalps at 18.37.
Elsewhere, the West Indies quicks were struggling to get through their overs during the second innings, with the venue’s scoreboard at one stage suggesting they were 12 overs behind the required rate. The hosts could be at risk of copping a sanction or losing World Test Championship points for their slow over rate.
‘VERY IMPORTANT’: LYON’S VITAL 33-BALL RESISTANCE
Having survived seven deliveries the previous evening, Nathan Lyon was unbeaten on 2 when play resumed in St. George’s on Saturday morning.
The veteran off-spinner had fulfilled his purpose as the nightwatcher, so his dismissal seemed like a formality for the West Indies bowlers.
“Steve Smith reckons I should retire hurt so he can come out straight away,” Lyon laughed before play on day three.
“I’ll go out there and try my best as I always do. I’m not a very good batter, but I’ll try my best.”
On the surface, Lyon’s eventual contribution with the bat was unspectacular, scoring 8 from 33 deliveries.
However, the right-hander had survived until the 15th over of the innings, adding 24 runs alongside Cameron Green in overcast conditions in a partnership that lasted nearly an hour. He trusted his defence and left the ball confidently in the channel, on one occasion slapping West Indies speedster Jayden Seales through point for a double, executing the shot opener Sam Konstas unsuccessfully attempted the previous evening.
Australia’s top-order batters had struggled throughout the series, with conditions settling after the 15th over, allowing for the likes of Travis Head and Beau Webster to counterpunch against the softened ball.
Not only had Lyon survived through to stumps, but he also helped take a layer of lacquer off the Dukes ball to make things marginally easier for Smith when he got to the middle.
Following Lyon’s dismissal, Green and Smith combined for a 93-run partnership, swinging the pendulum back in Australia’s favour.
“That was very important,” former West Indies all-rounder Stacy-Ann King said of Lyon’s innings.
“Seeing off the new ball, seeing off the shine ... it made it much easier for the batters coming in.”
Lyon was visibly frustrated with himself after falling victim to seamer Alzarri Joseph, edging an outswinger towards the slips cordon, but the New South Welshman can feel satisfied with his unremarkable, but nevertheless important batting performance.
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