Milestone man Pat Cummins has the task of deciding how long Australia must bat on Saturday before declaring to press for victory in first Test after ignoring the follow-on against the West Indies at Perth Stadium.
The Australians bowled the West Indies out for 283 late on Friday in reply to Australia’s 4-598 declared. At stumps on day three Australia were 1-29 in their second innings, an overall lead of 344 with two days to play.
Perth is the location for the most successful run chase in Australia, when South Africa made 4-414 at the WACA Ground in 2008, just across the river from Perth Stadium.
Cummins must find the balance between ensuring he has enough runs and allowing enough time to take ten wickets on a pitch he hopes will begin to crack and play tricks.
With five Tests inside seven weeks and then tours of India and England and a 50-over World Cup in India next year, preserving the fast bowlers is a high priority.
Given that just four wickets fell on the first two days, Australia did well to claim all ten West Indian wickets on Friday.
Pat Cummins removes Kraigg Brathwaite to pick up his 200th Test wicket.Credit:Getty
Along the way Cummins (3-34) took his 200th wicket a day after Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith scored their second and fourth double centuries respectively, with Smith joining Don Bradman on 29 Test hundreds.
It gave Cummins a special place in cricket history, becoming the 19th Australian to achieve the feat. His 200 Test wickets have come at an average of just 21.67 from 44 matches. That’s the fifth fastest for Australia after Clarrie Grimmett (36 Tests), Dennis Lillee (38), Stuart MacGill (41) and Shane Warne (42).
West Indian batsman Shamarh Brooks tries to get out of the way of a rising delivery.Credit:Getty
It took the perfect ball from Cummins to remove stubborn West Indian captain Kraigg Brathwaite for 64, made from 166 balls.
As he did to Joe Root in Manchester during the 2019 Ashes tour, Cummins pitched on the stumps and the ball moved away off the seam just far enough to miss the bat and clip the top of off stump.
While Cummins finished with the best figures, Mitch Starc (3-51) broke the game open, with some lovely in swingers, bowling Kyle Mayers (1) and claiming Jermaine Blackwood (36) leg before wicket.
Josh Hazlewood claimed the first West Indian wicket during the opening over of the day.
Having batted with courage late on day two, surviving a working over from Australia’s pace attack, debutant Tagenarine Chandepaul brought up his half century with an edge through the slips from Hazlewood. He was gone next ball, edging a ball sliding across him to be comfortably caught low at first slip by David Warner.
Cameron Green made a major impact before he had taken a wicket in his first home Test, roughing up the West Indies.
The only West Australian in the Test team, the usually amiable giant unleashed his nasty streak. Green received a big cheer from the small but loyal crowd of 11,272 when he replaced Hazlewood and promptly began using the bounce generated by his height to hurry the batsmen.
With his third ball Green hit Nkrumah Bonner on the helmet as he ducked into a short ball. Bonner was examined on the field, replaced his helmet and continued until the first drinks break before retiring hurt.
Shortly before tea Bonner was subbed out of the game and replaced by Shamarh Brooks, who came in when Nathan Lyon claimed the fourth West Indian wicket, Jason Holder (27), caught at leg slip by a diving Warner. It was a particularly satisfying wicket for Lyon, who had been clubbed into the stands by the long reach of Holder.
Green had also hit Holder on the helmet, with the ball flying away for four leg byes. Holder replaced his helmet but was okay to continue. Green eventually joined the party, having Brooks caught behind for 33 to generate an even bigger cheer.
There was also some commotion in the crowd before lunch when Perth Stadium security removed a banner reading “Justice for JL” at the bottom of the Justin Langer stand. The group who had held it up began chanting “we want Justin”, who was sitting in the commentary box at the other end of the ground.
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
