After looking in all sorts at 5/64, the West Indies have bravely fought back to be in a competitive position at 8/266 against Australia at the start of Day 2 in the day/night Test at the Gabba.
Windies batsmen Josh Da Silva and Kavem Hodge saved the day with a gutsy 149-run partnership to save face for the visitors, who won the toss and elected to ball on what Mark Waugh described as “rock-hard” and a “pitch from the nineties”.
Mitch Starc was the pick of the bowlers, with the left-arm quick continuing his pink ball affinity by collecting four of the eight wickets.
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Due to scheduling complications this summer and the Big Bash, the Gabba is playing host to the day/night Test instead of Adelaide, who has done so for the past four years.
However, Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon has reservations about the move, believing the pink ball test should have stayed in South Australia.
“I’ll try not to get in trouble. This is just my opinion. The right venue for Pink ball Tests is Adelaide Oval and that’s because it’s the contest between bat and ball and the grass left on the wicket,” Lyon told ABC radio after the day’s play.
“This wicket, I think it would be a brilliant red ball wicket.”
FINAL TEAMS
Australia: Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Kevin Sinclair, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Shamar Joseph
Follow along to all the action of Day 2 in our live blog below: Can’t see it? Click here!
