The third Australia-West Indies Test at Kingston’s Sabina Park yielded a dramatic Day 2 replete with on-field drama, unbridled pace, and tension on and off the field. While Australia’s pacers dismantled the West Indian batsmen with merciless accuracy, a fiery on-field encounter between Aussie skipper Pat Cummins and umpire Nitin Menon was the headline-grabbing act.
Cummins vs Menon: The 24th Over Flashpoint Moment
The flashpoint was in the 24th over of West Indies’ batting in the first innings. With 2 for 52 on the scoreboard, opener John Campbell pushed a ball from Mitchell Starc to mid-on and set off for a dangerous single. Cummins was the first to respond, popping in a direct throw at the non-striker’s end and thinking that he had got Campbell short of his ground.
But no official appeal was lodged, and according to procedure, the decision was not referred to the third umpire by Nitin Menon. Cummins, visibly upset, strode over to Menon and had a tense conversation that was captured by the microphones. “Why wouldn’t you just check?” he asked, his voice acerbic with the drama of the moment.
The repartee lasted nearly a minute, highlighting the pressure-cooker atmosphere of Test cricket and razor-thin margins that can turn a game. Campbell, though, did not capitalise on his fortunate opening ultimately being dismissed on 36, caught lbw by Scott Boland ten overs later after being the lone West Indies batter to appear reasonably settled.
Australia’s Pacers Take Charge as West Indies Collapse
After that, Australia clamped down. West Indies’ innings came crashing down, which was 2-52 to 143 all out in 52.1 overs. Other than Campbell and Shai Hope (who contributed 23), none of the other batters had the technique or temperament to stand in the face of Australia’space barrage.
Scott Boland spearheaded the attack with 3 for 34, well supported by Cummins (2 for 24) and Josh Hazlewood (2 for 32). The hosts’ shot selection was under pressure, none more glaring than that of Mikyle Louis’s wanton heave that reduced his stumps to splinters a moment from which former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin had no hesitation in criticizing, calling it an “absolute brain explosion.”
Australia in Control, But the Battle Isn’t Over
While Australia are in commanding position, they themselves have not come out unscathed. Their own top-order batsmen struggled on a surface providing help to the quick bowlers. But since the West Indies could not put up any resistance and tensions were already running high, the match is still intriguing.
Day 2, if anything, suggests that the rest of this pink-ball Test is going to be more fire on the field, in the dressing rooms, and beneath the Kingston lights.
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