Australian batsman Steve Smith, who embarked on a new role for the Test team as an opener alongside Usman Khawaja, had a brief time in the middle as debutant West Indies pacer Shamar Joseph led to his dismissal from the crease. in what was a young man’s first Test cricket ball.
Steve Smith departed with just 12 runs in his first outing as a Test opener, replacing David Warner at the top. The right-handed batsman had expressed his desire to face the new ball with Khawaja following Warner’s retirement which, after being initially rejected, was approved by the Australian management.
Watch Shamar Joseph dismiss Steve Smith with a late swinger
SHAMAR JOSEPH WITH HIS FIRST BALL IN TEST CRICKET!
And it’s Steve Smith who takes the wicket! #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/QpV0Aak1Dd
– 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 17, 2024
If we talk about the dismissal of Steve Smith, then it was a complete miscalculation on the part of the 34-year-old. But the credit goes to Shemar Joseph, who executed the ball well. It was a shot from behind that was marginally wide of Steve Smith, who was not expecting the late swing and was looking to lay the ball down.
However, he brought his bat a little late and the ball took a hard outside edge of Smith’s blade before landing in the hands of third-spinner Justin Greaves, who did a commendable job of taking a diving catch. When Khawaja and Green come out to bat tomorrow, the latter will specifically be looking to score something big in his return to Test cricket for the first time since the Ashes in England last year.
The 2-match Test series against the West Indies that began today in Adelaide is the first time Australia has tested a new opening pair since Warner joined the team. It will be a good challenge for the team as they are implementing a change in their batting order in this series.
But against everyone’s expectations, Steve Smith’s new role in the Test team has not started well. While he was batting in the second innings after bowling out West Indies for 188 in 63 overs, Australia are currently trailing 129 runs after stumps on Day 1.
Usman Khawaja and all-rounder Cameron Green closed day 1 by adding 59 runs on the board with the loss of 2 wickets. After the departure of Steve Smith, number 3 batsman Marnus Labuschagne received his marching orders for 10 from the same player who removed the new opener.
Australian captain Pat Cummins asked the West Indies to bat first after winning the toss. The hosts’ pace battery greeted the visitors in the best possible way, bowling them all out for 188 in the 63rd over. Cummins and Josh Hazlewood accounted for 4 wickets each, while Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon had to settle with 1 wicket each. one.
West Indies’ number 3 batsman Kirk McKenzie produced his team’s only notable performance with his 50 for 94. McKenzie scored 7 Fours and if not for his hitting, West Indies would not have even reached 188.
Not the best way to start for them if they are to realize their desire to win a first Test series against Australia since the 1992/93 season, when a West Indies team led by Richie Richardson won 2-1 in a match. 5. series below.