Australia has started the Test summer in style, notching a resounding win over the West Indies in Perth on Sunday.
And in a rare moment for foxsports.com.au, multiple perfect scores have been handed out, while just one Australian failed to earn a pass-mark.
Here’s how every Australian fared in the first Test against the West Indies.
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DAVID WARNER — 3.5
5 and 48
The opener would be filthy at himself given the amount of runs that were on offer in the first innings. Might’ve been unlucky to chop on, but his footwork was desperately lacking and he was left reaching at a full, wide delivery from Jayden Seales. Some might’ve expected Warner to explode in the second innings to allow for an earlier declaration, but the hammer never came down, before he became Roston Chase’s only wicket of the Test.
USMAN KHAWAJA — 6
65 and 6
Didn’t go big like the three batters below him, but it must be said that Khawaja faced the best of the West Indies bowling of the entire Test. The tourists were patient and disciplined in the first couple sessions, hitting tidy areas to keep Khawaja on the defensive for much of his innings. He cashed in when Chase came on to bowl and ultimately did well for his 65 off 149 balls. Kyle Mayers’ delivery to find his outside edge wasn’t half bad either. Missed out in the second innings, but it was hardly damaging to Australia’s position.
STEVE SMITH — 10
200* and 20*
This was Steve Smith back at the peak of his powers. This is the best he’s felt at the crease in years — and that comfortability was clear to see in a magnificent 311-ball double ton. The double century is his fourth in Test cricket, and first since the 2019 Ashes. Most impressive was the fact that the West Indies barely had a sniff at taking Smith’s wicket. Smith powered Australia to a massive total seemingly with total ease, and went the entire Test without being dismissed. He was also on fire in the slips with some brilliant catching in the second innings. If we could give him 11/10, we would.
Every boundary from Smith’s double ton! | 03:56
MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE — 10
204 and 104*
With an average of 308 for the Test, it’s hard to not give Labuschagne a perfect score, too. The elephant in the room is that he was unusually lucky, dropped twice in the first innings, out to a no-ball in the second, while there were many edges and play-and-misses. Even so, how can you not give a 10 to someone with a double century and a century in the same innings? After all, now only three Australians have ever done it, while Labuschagne is the only one since Greg Chappell in 1974. A truly exceptional batting display, even if there was some help along the way. That’s part of cricket, after all.
TRAVIS HEAD — 8
99
0-4 and 2-25
You’ve really got to feel for the Australian No.5. There were flashbacks to the Ashes in the first innings when Head was again in white ball mode and blasting his way to a quickfire century. The kick he can provide in the Australian middle-order in home conditions is reminiscent of fellow left-hander Adam Gilchrist. But he didn’t get what he deserved when he chopped on for 99 to part-timer Kraigg Brathwaite. A tough pill to swallow, but a fine display. He chipped in with a few overs in the second innings and took two wickets, including breaking the dangerous partnership of Alzarri Joseph and Roston Chase. Gains an extra point for that.
Devastation as Head falls short on 99! | 02:12
CAMERON GREEN — 5
DNB
1-35 and 0-45
There was so much excitement about the young all-rounder’s first Test in his home state. The only problem was the Australian top-order went off-script and batted him out of the match — Green didn’t get to the crease in either innings. With the ball, Green seemed to find a way to make things happen. His natural extra bounce was menacing and saw Nkrumah Bonner have to be subbed out with concussion. In the second innings, he could’ve been the one to break the stubborn opening partnership if Mitchell Starc held onto a tough catch. Wasn’t needed much in the second innings, however, with the spinners doing the majority of the damage.
ALEX CAREY — 5
DNB
A tough performance to critique given he also didn’t have to bat for the entire Test. Few complains with the hands, which have been more or less safe as houses compared to last Ashes and the tour of Pakistan. There was, however, a missed outside edge to Alzarri Joseph which he loses a mark for. Being the wicketkeeper can be a thankless job.
PAT CUMMINS — 7
3-34
Little surprise that a switch to Test cricket saw the best brought out of Pat Cummins again. The right-armer was a handful for the West Indies who could only take 1.67 runs an over from his accurate first innings spell. His ball to bash down the West Indies wall of Kraigg Brathwaite for 64 was a thing of absolute beauty. Soreness ultimately got the better of Cummins who didn’t hit the crease during the second session, which affects his rating. As captain, he shied away from a follow-on again to give his bowlers a rest, while he gave them five sessions to win the Test with a lead of 498 runs. No one can have any complaints about that.
MITCHELL STARC — 7.5
3-51 and 1-65
Strange to not have an early wicket from Mitchell Starc in either innings of this Test, but it didn’t stop him from having the last laugh. He was the one to put the West Indies first innings collapse in full swing with his trademark inswingers with the new ball simply proving to be too hot to handle. Fairly quiet in the second innings with an unlucky chop-on from Tagenarine Chanderpaul his only wicket.
Starc & Cummins produce PEACHES early! | 01:18
NATHAN LYON — 8.5
2-61 and 6-128
Played more of a supporting role in the first innings but was still good value for a couple of wickets. As is standard for when Australia is chasing a day five victory, Lyon’s main duties were reserved for the end of the Test. And he delivered, albeit in conjunction with Head and not as a solo operator. Lyon had already done some damage late on day four, but it was clear he was going to be a problem from the very first ball of day five, when he should’ve had Kyle Mayers caught at bat-pad. He dismissed him anyway, and then the big wicket of Brathwaite for 110. Mopped up the final two wickets to end with a six-wicket haul.
JOSH HAZLEWOOD — 7.5
1-53 and 1-52
Can you think of a more luckless Test spell from an Aussie quick than Josh Hazlewood’s on day four? The Bendemeer Bullet was an absolute menace with barely a ball out of place. Somehow, he didn’t take a wicket — which was the trend of the Test given he was also exceptional in the first innings but only took 1-53. Cricket’s a funny game, which is surely not lost on Hazlewood, who could do nothing but find outside edges when India was rolled for 36 at Adelaide Oval two years ago, taking 5-8. He finally had some well-deserved joy on the final day with the wicket of Joshua Da Silva. Two wickets for the Test is still a ridiculous representation of how he bowled.
