Australia’s top order are set to face a tough final examination in the West Indies, after the hosts were bowled out for 143 at dinner on day two of the third Test in Jamaica.
Scott Boland justified his call up ahead of Nathan Lyon with three wickets, while Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood claimed two each as Australia took an 82-run lead.
While it means Australia are in the box seat to claim a 3-0 series sweep in the Frank Worrell Trophy, it isn’t all good news for the tourists’ under-fire top order.
Batting under lights appears the most difficult task at Sabina Park, with the pink ball speeding up off the pitch at night and moving around.
The Jamaica Test is Australia’s last before this summer’s home Ashes, and neither of the openers, Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja, has posted a half-century in this series.
This series is already one of the most difficult for batters in some time, with no batter from either side having scored a century in the first two-and-a-half Tests.
Having for the first time in 12 years left out offspinner Lyon when fit, Australia’s four-strong pace attack still got plenty of seam movement on day two.
Boland made most use of it in his 3 for 34, removing the Windies’ two top scorers in John Campbell (36) and Shai Hope (23).
The Victorian first had Campbell lbw leaving a ball that angled into the left-hander, before nipping a ball back between Hope’s bat and pad to bowl him.
Boland then finished the job by bowling Shamar Joseph, wrapping up the 36-year-old’s best Test figures outside of Australia.
Hazlewood had earlier trapped opener Brandon King lbw with another ball that seamed in at the right-hander, before knocking over Mikyle Louis for seven.
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Louis’ ugly attempt at an across-the-line slog prompted a collapse of 48 for 6 for West Indies, after having fought hard for the first half on Sunday (Monday AEST).
The capitulation was best summed up by Justin Greaves (18) being run out by Sam Konstas from the deep-cover boundary, after the allrounder didn’t sprint the first two runs.
Australia had earlier been denied another run-out in the first session when Campbell was on 15, after Cummins threw down the stumps from mid off.
There was a minimal appeal from the Australians, before replays showed Campbell’s bat may not have been grounded as it went past the crease.
Cummins remonstrated with umpire Nitin Menon after the next ball, and could be heard to say “I appealed”, while asking while it was not referred upstairs.