Australia Stumble to 180 All Out as West Indies Seize Control on Wild First Day in Barbados Test

Jul, 5 2025

Relentless Pace, Unpredictable Turns: A First Day That Had It All

No one could have predicted such an explosive start to the first Test between Australia and the West Indies at Kensington Oval. Before most fans finished their lunch, Australia’s first innings had unraveled, the scoreboard stubborn at 180. The name on everyone’s lips? Shamar Joseph, the West Indian quick who ripped through the tourists with figures of 5 for 87, setting the tone for a day where bowlers were constantly in business.

It’s not often that you see 14 wickets tumbling in just one day’s play, but Day 1 served constant drama. Australia, sent in to bat on a lively surface, couldn’t steady themselves after early blows. Their top order looked shaky as the West Indies’ combination of raw pace and persistence made every run feel hard-earned. Joseph did much of the damage with the new ball, but Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales made sure the pressure never eased, each taking crucial wickets just when Australia seemed to be clawing back some control.

Australia’s scoring didn’t quite reflect bursts of resistance. A few batsmen got starts but none managed to build the kind of innings that could be an anchor. Instead, mistimed strokes, edges, and sheer intimidation from the West Indian quicks sent wickets tumbling at regular intervals. The 180-run total looked below par even before the West Indies began their reply—especially on a pitch still offering help to seamers.

West Indies Fight Back, But Starc Strikes Early

The West Indies could have been forgiven for thinking they would coast in reply. But Australia’s Mitchell Starc made an immediate impact, removing captain Kraigg Brathwaite with just the fifth ball. It was a reminder that conditions still held demons and the contest was far from one-sided.

Even so, the hosts found moments of composure. Their middle order did the hard work, putting on key partnerships and inching away from trouble whenever Australia threatened to make a breakthrough. By the close, West Indies had 190 runs for 4 wickets, and for the first time in the match, a team crept ahead on the scoreboard. Starc’s early success kept the visitors in the hunt, but the Windies showed enough grit to avoid a collapse of their own—for now.

The big story, though, was the sheer number of wickets and the intense pressure on both batting lineups. The game has been flung wide open. With just a handful of runs and wickets separating the sides after one day, neither camp can relax yet. West Indies will try to build a significant lead on the second day, but with Australia’s attack and the pitch still offering unpredictability, nobody’s betting against more surprises in Barbados. This is classic Test cricket—unpredictable, nerve-wracking, and impossible to turn away from.