Australia completed a 5-0 sweep of the West Indies in their Twenty20 international series with Ben Dwarshuis's bowling paving the way for a three-wicket victory in Basseterre, Saint Kitts on Monday.

Mitchell Owen top-scored for Australia with 37 off 17 balls, while Cameron Green (32), Tim David (30) and Aaron Hardie (28 nout out) all made valuable contributions as the visitors reached their target of 171 with 18 balls to spare.

The win sealed the first T20 series sweep by an Australian men's team in the West Indies, and saw them end the tour with a perfect 8-0 record after a similar sweep in the three-test series.

Australia finished the job which was built on the back of an excellent bowling performance #WIvAUS https://t.co/mLQQZVSjKz

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) July 29, 2025

"I didn't expect 5-0 at the start of the series," Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said. "But we played some great cricket. It was something we spoke about after the fourth game.

"We knew no Australian team had completed a clean sweep. We've had guys come in and played different roles for us."

The match featured 15 sixes, which Marsh attributed to the size of the venue.

"I think it's a small ground, so there's always going to be more sixes than normal," he said.

"But I think if you look down our batting order in all the five games, we had a lot of power and I guess the messaging was just to play their natural game."

Marsh also lauded the performance of his relatively inexperienced bowlers in the death overs.

"I'm pretty sure in the last four overs, we didn't go for more than 40 or 50 across the five games," he said.

"It's really hard to do. So I think all of them executed. Nathan Ellis was outstanding, Sean Abbott was brilliant. Ben Dwarshuis hasn't played a lot, did a really good role, and even Xavier Bartlett has grown and grown as a bowler."

West Indies fans must have feared the worst when Australia won a fifth straight toss and bowled the hosts out for 170, a total they reached thanks in large part to Shimron Hetmyer's knock of 52 off 31 balls.

Raise the bat! Today Adam Zampa plays his 100th T20 International for Australia 🇦🇺👏 #WIvAUS pic.twitter.com/2qOBWAp0wq

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) July 28, 2025

Dwarshuis picked up Hetmyer's wicket as well as those of openers Brandon King (11) and Shai Hope (9).

"It was a little bit of a slower wicket so we tried to hit the wicket hard and use the slower balls as well," said Dwarshuis, who was named player of the match.

Australia return home for a limited-overs series against South Africa, while the West Indies play Pakistan in three T20Is and three one-day internationals.

Cameron Green hit an unbeaten 55 and Josh Inglis added 51 to lift Australia to a three wicket win over the West Indies on Saturday in the fourth match of their Twenty20 International series.

West Indies were 205 for nine after being sent to bat first after the visitors won the toss, but took five wickets after the midpoint to keep the pressure on Australia chasing 206 to win.

The Aussies seized a 4-0 lead in the five-match series and can complete a sweep by winning Monday's finale at Warner Park.

Green struck his half-century off 35 balls with three sixes and three fours while Inglis had one six and 10 fours in 30 balls and Glenn Maxwell had 47 runs off 18 balls, hitting six sixes and a four.

But a night after Tim David bashed Australia's fastest T20I century off only 37 balls, he was rested from the Aussie line-up and the chase had some tense moments.

Australia's Mitchell Marsh was out lbw for a second-ball duck from West Indies left-arm fast-medium pace bowler Jediah Blades.

Inglis entered to partner with Maxwell but flew out to deep backward square, caught by Sherfane Rutherford off a ball from Romario Shepherd to start the seventh over, leaving the Aussies on 66 for two.

 

Cameron Green's third fifty in the series leads Australia to their fourth win on the trot against the West Indies 🙌#WIvAUS 📝: https://t.co/NQJbQ3Qbpn pic.twitter.com/LQqZQcUCi7

— ICC (@ICC) July 27, 2025

 

The visitors reached 129 for two at the drinks break but on the next ball to start the 11th over, Maxwell was caught by Jason Holder at long on from a Akeal Hosein delivery.

Blades bowled Mitchell Owen for two thanks to Rutherford's deep cover grab and two balls later Blades got his third wicket, sending off Cooper Connolly for a duck on Holder's mid-off catch, the Aussies stuck on 134 for five.

Holder took Aaron Hardie for 23 on a long off catch by Shimron Hetmyer to open the 17th over with the Aussies still 21 runs from victory.

A drive by Green deflected off Shepherd's fingers and into the stumps of Xavier Bartlett out of his ground, his seventh wicket gone for nine and the Aussies two runs from victory.

Green, however, scored runs off the next two deliveries and Sean Abbott pushed Australia across the line, scoring the final run with four balls to spare.

AUSSIE FIELDING SOLID

West Indies managed only a top score of 31 as Aussie fielders shone.

Bartlett bowled out Brandon King for 18 when he chipped out midwicket to Hardie and removed Shai Hope for 10 after Maxwell made a diving catch mid-on.

 

Australia can do no wrong this series - they go 4-0 up! 🔥

🔗 https://t.co/7xyvfPyVbW pic.twitter.com/AKt6eQEpew

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 27, 2025

 

 

---

 

Maxwell made a one-handed grab to retire Roston Chase for nil off a Hardie delivery, leaving West Indies on 42 for three only one ball into the fifth over.

Rutherford went out for 31 when caught by Marsh at backward point off a nice delivery from Adam Zampa to make it 67 for four.

Owen made a diving catch at deep backward point to retire Hetmyer on 16.

Maxwell struck again for the seventh wicket, flicking the ball before going over the boundary so Green could make the catch and send off Shepherd on 28.

Green then caught Matthew Forde for 15 to put the West Indies on 184 for eight.

Rain hit with four balls remaining but after a 55-minute delay, the hosts scored two final runs.

AUSTRALIA: Adam Zampa, Benjamin Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Cooper Connolly, Glenn Maxwell, Joshua Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Marsh (c), Mitchell Owen, Nathan Ellis, Timothy David

WEST INDIES: Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Andre Russell, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Jason Holder, Roston Chase, Rovman Powell, Shai Hope (c) (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Shimron Hetmyer

Middle order batter Tim David smashed the fastest Twenty20 International century for Australia as they sealed a six-wicket victory over the West Indies in the third T20 on Friday to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in their five-match series.

David hit 11 sixes and six fours to finish on unbeaten 102 off 37 deliveries, with Australia crushing the hosts with 23 balls to spare at Warner Park in Basseterre, Saint Kitts.

"I was just having a great time in the middle playing for Australia...I didn't think I would get the opportunity to get a hundred for Australia so I'm stoked," David said.

"The pitch was good and small boundaries so you have to back your strengths. Warner Park is a great place to bat and it was great to have experience here in the CPL (Caribbean Premier League).

"I've spent a lot of time working on power hitting but now I'm working on my shot selection."

 

Australia take the opening St. Kitts T20I.#WIvAUS #FullAhEnergy pic.twitter.com/8xFDC3uSEl

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 26, 2025

Put into bat after Australia won the toss, West Indies got off to a solid start helped by a 125-run opening stand between Shai Hope and Brandon King.

Mitchell Owen provided Australia with a much-needed breakthrough when he took out King, who had holed out to deep forward square, while Shimron Hetmyer (9), Sherfane Rutherford (12) and Rovman Powell (9) were all removed cheaply.

West Indies' total was boosted by a fine unbeaten 102 off 57 balls by captain Hope as they posted 214-4.

 

Tim. David. 🤯

The fastest T20I century by an Australian!#WIvAUS pic.twitter.com/1184hzQWkV

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) July 26, 2025

Australia's reply initially stuttered as they found themselves 61-3 in 5.5 overs, but David scored a sparkling ton to eclipse Josh Inglis' record (43 balls) for fastest T20 century for Australia by six deliveries.

"I don't think we had enough runs on the board. On a pitch like that with the dimension of the ground, we know it's going to be hard to defend. I think we fell a few runs short and with the ball we needed to pick up more wickets," Hope said.

"We're very powerful strikers but we have to give credit to the Australian bowlers, they've bowled very well in the death overs."

Australia had won the first T20 by three wickets and second by eight wickets.

"We've played well so far in the series. We've executed well with the ball and there are no words for that innings from Tim David. We're giving guys opportunities in different roles. As a group we've played really good cricket," Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said.

---

AUSTRALIA: Adam Zampa, Benjamin Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Cooper Connolly, Glenn Maxwell, Joshua Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Marsh (c), Mitchell Owen, Nathan Ellis, Timothy David

WEST INDIES: Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Andre Russell, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Jason Holder, Roston Chase, Rovman Powell, Shai Hope (c) (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Shimron Hetmyer

Andre Russell struck a sparkling 36 off 15 balls in his final innings before retirement on Tuesday, but could not save the West Indies from losing the second Twenty20 international against Australia in Kingston.

The 37-year-old allrounder was unable to script a fairytale farewell to his glittering T20 career, but departed to a standing ovation on his home Sabina Park ground after hitting four trademark sixes and two fours.

Batting at No 7 in his 85th and last T20 international, Russell's cameo, plus a late flurry from Gudakesh Motie (18 off nine balls), added to 51 from opener Brandon King, enabled the hosts to score 172 for eight off their 20 overs.

But a record 131-run stand by Josh Inglis, who made 78 not out, and Cameron Green (56 not out) saw Australia race to an eight-wicket win with more than four overs to spare.

It was Australia's highest third-wicket partnership in Twenty20 internationals and, aided by six dropped catches by West Indies fielders, gave the visitors a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Inglis hit seven fours and five sixes while Green was barely more sedate, clearing the ropes four times and stroking three fours in his second consecutive fifty.

"I didn't want to finish on a losing note," said Russell, whose spectacular final knock had briefly thrilled his hometown crowd.

"I enjoy seeing the ball go over the ropes," he added.

"As a kid, you dream about playing here. Thanks to all the fans who came out to support me."

Russell, who was given a guard of honour before the match by both teams, played just one test match.

It was as a Twenty20 specialist that he made his name, winning the T20 World Cup twice with the West Indies in 2012 and 2016.

A more than lively seam bowler, Russell's free-scoring late-order batting and athletic fielding saw him sought after by T20 leagues around the world.

He has been with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL since 2014, scoring more than 2 400 runs.

Mitchell Owen made an impressive debut as Australia beat West Indies by three wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match Twenty20 International series in Jamaica on Sunday.

Owen took a wicket with his medium pace bowling before returning to smash 50 off 27 balls as Australia chased down a 190-run target with seven balls to spare.

An incredibly impressive 50 for Mitch Owen in his T20I debut 🔥

SCORES: https://t.co/ufzWlsMljU | #WIvAUS pic.twitter.com/ZGwZnIvDzM

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) July 21, 2025

West Indies, who lost the preceding test series 3-0, got off to a strong start after being put into bat at Sabina Park.

Captain Shai Hope (55), Roston Chase (60) and Shimron Hetmyer (38) laid the platform for a 200-plus score but the late flourish they expected never materialised.

Andre Russell, who will quit international cricket after the second T20 on Tuesday, made only eight.

Australia's Ben Dwarshuis (4-36) mowed down the middle and lower order as West Indies were forced to settle for a modest 189-8.

While Australia lost both their openers, captain Mitchell Marsh and Jake Fraser-McGurk, inside the powerplay they were propped up by a breezy 80-run stand by Cameron Green (51) and Owen.

Green belted five sixes in his 26-ball blitz, while Owen smacked six of them before holing out in the 17th over with Australia on the cusp of victory.

Two-time Twenty20 World Cup winner Andre Russell will retire from international cricket at age 37 after the second T20 match against Australia on 22 July in his hometown of Kingston, Jamaica, Cricket West Indies (CWI) said on Wednesday.

Allrounder Russell, who won the T20 World Cup in 2012 and 2016, has earned 84 international caps in the format, scoring three fifties and taking 61 wickets.

The white-ball specialist, who played only one test match, also appeared in 56 one-day internationals (ODI), taking 70 wickets.

He last played in the 50-over format in 2019.

Thank You, DRE RUSS!🫶🏽

For 15 years, you played with heart, passion, and pride for the West Indies 🌴

From being a two-time T20 World Cup Champion to your dazzling power on and off the field.❤️

WI Salute You!🏏#OneLastDance #WIvAUS #FullAhEnergy pic.twitter.com/bEWfdMGdZ7

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 16, 2025

“Words cannot explain what it meant. To represent the West Indies has been one of the proudest achievements in my life," Russell said in a statement.

"When I was a kid, I did not expect to get to this level, but the more you start to play and get to love the sport, you realise what you can achieve. This inspired me to become better because I wanted to leave a mark in the maroon colours and become an inspiration to others."

Russell, who travels around the world competing in T20 leagues and most recently appeared in Major League Cricket in the US this month, said he wanted to finish his international career on a high.

THANK YOU, ANDRE RUSSELL. 🙏🏽💥

From the moment you stepped onto that field in maroon, you didn’t just play—you ignited. 💪🏽

Power. Passion. Pride. You gave us everything.

This isn’t just #OneLastDance — it’s the legacy of a warrior.🫶🏽❤️#OneLastDance #WIvAUS #FullAhEnergy pic.twitter.com/lKW6roISrG

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 16, 2025

"His hunger to perform and win for West Indies has never wavered. I wish him all the best on his next chapter, and I hope he continues to inspire generations to come," West Indies coach Daren Sammy said.

West Indies host Australia in the first T20 of the five-match series on Sunday in Kingston.

Australia won their test series 3-0.

Cricket West Indies will call upon batting royalty Clive Lloyd, Vivian Richards and Brian Lara to help dissect their humiliating 3-0 series whitewash by Australia, which culminated in one of the most spectacular collapses in cricket history.

Chasing 204 for victory in the final test, West Indies were bowled out for just 27 runs on Monday, recording the second-lowest total in test history after New Zealand's 26 against England in 1955.

A batting collapse that West Indies would like to erase from the history books.

Their 27 all out against Australia is now the second-lowest team total in Test history.

[WIvsAUS, Cricket, Australia, Test Cricket, West Indies, Mitchell Starc, SportsInfo Cricket] pic.twitter.com/MTPatDNKs9

— SportsInfo Cricket (@SportsInfo11983) July 15, 2025

The carnage prompted CWI president Kishore Shallow to summon an emergency meeting of the Cricket Strategy and Officiating Committee, enlisting three of the Caribbean's greatest batters to give their thoughts on the humiliating defeat in Kingston.

"To strengthen the discussions, I have extended invitations to three of our greatest batsmen ever: Sir Clive Lloyd, Sir Vivian Richards, and Brian Lara," Shallow said in a statement on Tuesday.

The trio, who plundered a combined 27 967 test runs in their careers, will join former players Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Desmond Haynes and Ian Bradshaw who already serve on the committee.

"This engagement is not ceremonial. These are men who helped define our golden eras," Shallow added.

"Their perspectives will be invaluable as we shape the next phase of our cricket development. We intend for this gathering to result in tangible, actionable recommendations."

Shallow acknowledged that the series result and especially the final match would lead to many "sleepless nights ahead" for fans and players, but urged patience as they continue to rebuild the team.

"While disappointment is natural, we must not allow this moment to define our journey," he said.

"We are in a rebuilding phase, steadily investing in the next generation, and reigniting the spirit that has long made West Indies cricket a force in the world.

"The road ahead will test us, but I have faith in the talent and commitment of our players when they apply themselves."

Absolutely gutted by today's result.#WIvAUS | #FullAhEnergy pic.twitter.com/EdqLS4PK0Y

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 14, 2025

Amid the back slaps and banter in a victorious Australian dressing room, teen opener Sam Konstas's celebrations may feel bittersweet at the end of his forgettable test series in the West Indies.

Australia completed a 3-0 whitewash of the West Indies on Monday with a 176-run rout in the pink-ball test in Kingston.

But Konstas can claim little credit.

A five-ball duck in the second innings at Sabina Park saw the 19-year-old, who has been touted as the "future of Australian batting", finish with 50 runs from his six innings at an average of 8.33.

Only Jayden Seales, the West Indies fast bowler and tailender, had fewer runs among players who competed in all three matches.

With England's Jofra Archer and the first Ashes test looming in four months, alarm bells are ringing in Australia.

"The prospect of Konstas facing Jofra Archer with the first ball of the Ashes on 21 November – potentially delivered at 155km/h – doesn’t feel like a fair fight," the Sydney Morning Herald said.

Konstas also grassed two slips catches off Mitchell Starc's bowling on the final day at Sabina Park as Australia bowled out the hosts for 27, the second-lowest test innings score after New Zealand's 26 against England in 1955.

Last December, Konstas took the cricket world by storm when he scored 60 on debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Boxing Day, repeatedly ramping India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.

He has not passed 25 runs in an innings since, holding an average of 16.30 from five tests.

Australia have discarded plenty of players for lesser batting crimes but selectors are desperate for Konstas to make the grade and fill the void at opener which has lingered since David Warner's retirement.

The West Indies pitches were surprisingly tough and Konstas was not alone in his struggles. His opening partner Usman Khawaja also had a poor series, averaging 19.50, while Travis Head was the top performer with a modest average of 37.33.

Australia captain Pat Cummins was loath to criticise his batting teammates in the conditions.

"It's really hard to judge, I think," he told reporters.

"There'll be a few of the guys who of course wish they could have done better and if they had another crack at it maybe did a few things differently.

"No doubt it was tough."

Konstas will look forward to returning to home pitches where last year he racked up centuries for fun in the Sheffield Shield.

Still only a teenager, he has plenty of time to develop as a player, but only a handful of Shield matches to convince he belongs in Australia's Ashes line-up.

Cricket West Indies must take responsibility for the team's woeful results after they were bundled out for the second-lowest total in test history in the third match against Australia on Monday, former allrounder Carl Hooper said.

Chasing 204 for victory in the day-night test at Sabina Park, West Indies lasted only 14.3 overs before being dismissed for 27 as Australia sealed a 3-0 series sweep. It was the lowest score since New Zealand managed 26 against England in 1955.

Seven West Indies batters registered ducks in the innings, a record for the test format.

Absolutely gutted by today's result.#WIvAUS | #FullAhEnergy pic.twitter.com/EdqLS4PK0Y

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 14, 2025

"Cricket West Indies, I really think a few heads should roll for this because they've made some decisions and this is the result of those decisions," a dismayed Hooper told ABC Sport.

"They've made some wholesale changes, massive changes, that I think wasn't needed.

"To make wholesale changes and then get results like this, Cricket West Indies have got to hold up their hands and be held accountable," said Hooper, who played 102 tests between 1987-2002.

Former Twenty20 captain Carlos Brathwaite was shocked by their failure to put up any resistance with the bat.

"Abysmal comes to mind," said Brathwaite, who hit four sixes in a row in the 2016 World Cup final against England to power West Indies to the title.

West Indies were the leading lights of test cricket in the 1970s and 1980s but have gone through a period of decline and currently rank eighth of 12 teams in the world rankings.

They have struggled to field a consistent test team in recent years with several frontline players often prioritising lucrative franchise cricket over the longest format.

West Indies will next face a trial by spin when they tour India for two tests in October.

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc produced a devastating opening spell as the West Indies were demolished for 27, the second-lowest score in test history, to suffer a humiliating 176-run defeat on the third day of the third and final game at Sabina Park on Monday.

Australia swept the series 3-0 after earlier victories in Barbados and Grenada.

Starc reached the landmark of 400 test wickets and Scott Boland completed a hat-trick but the hosts just avoided New Zealand's record low of 26, set in 1955.

West Indies were set a victory target of 204 after the tourists lost their last four wickets within 45 minutes of the start of play to be dismissed for 121 in the second innings, their lowest test innings total against the West Indies for 30 years.

Alzarri Joseph led the effort with his best test innings figures of five for 27 while Shamar Joseph claimed four for 34 to finish with 22 wickets in the series and go past the 50-wicket mark in tests along the way.

Everything else in the frenetic first session faded into irrelevance though in the face of Starc's wrecking ball-type performance as he reached the break with figures of five for six off five overs, finishing with six for nine when he bowled last man Jayden Seales half an hour into the second session to seal the win.

In his 100th test, the left-armer made up for a luckless first innings, when he picked up just one wicket, by dismissing John Campbell with the first ball of the second innings and adding two more victims –- debutant Kevlon Anderson and Brandon King off successive balls – before the opening over was completed.

Starc's 400th wicket came at the start of his third over when the other opener, Mikyle Louis, was palpably leg-before.

At that stage, the West Indies were five for four and Starc boasted the astonishing figures of four wickets for no runs.

The 35-year-old eventually conceded two runs via the outside edge of Shai Hope's bat but then promptly trapped the same batsman lbw for his fifth wicket.

He had taken just 15 deliveries, the fewest ever in test history, to complete a five-wicket haul.

West Indies captain Roston Chase was then caught behind off Josh Hazlewood to make the score an eye-popping 11 for six.

Boland then stole the honours at the start of the second session when he dismissed Justin Greaves, Shamar Joseph and Jomel Warrican off successive deliveries to complete the rare feat of a test hat-trick.

Australia were without first-choice wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who suffered a concussion when hit on the helmet by Alzarri Joseph late on day two. Josh Inglis replaced him behind the stumps.

Mitchell Starc struck early in his 100th test match as the West Indies reached 16 for one in response to Australia's first innings total of 225 on the opening day of the day/night third test at Sabina Park in Jamaica on Saturday.

Dismissed for a "duck" in an eventful final session as the tourists slipped from 157 for three, Starc bowled debutant Kevlon Anderson off the inside-edge to raise his tally of Test wickets to 396.

Anderson and Brandon King found themselves with the task of defying the Australian bowlers operating under lights with the new pink ball after selected openers John Campbell and Mikyle Louis were injured in the field.

King and captain Roston Chase will resume on the second day with the West Indies hoping that both Campbell and Louis will be fit to bat later in the innings as they seek a measure of consolation with the series already lost following defeats in the first two Tests in Barbados and Grenada.

Shamar Joseph again led the West Indies bowling effort with four for 33, lifting his tally to a series-leading 18 wickets.

Jayden Seales and Justin Greaves claimed three wickets each on a pitch offering considerable seam movement but still with enough in the surface to encourage the spinners, raising questions about the visitors' decision to omit veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon in preference for an additional fast-medium bowler in Scott Boland.

Seven of the visitors' top eight – all-rounder Beau Webster was the exception – got past 15 although none could carry on to the really big innings to put their side in a dominant position.

Turgid, almost tedious cricket defined the first two sessions with Australia advancing to 138 for three by the dinner break.

However, a comparatively frenetic passage of play followed, triggered by the demise of Steve Smith for a top score of 48, as Australia lost their last seven wickets for 68 runs in 15 overs.

Smith and Cameron Green (46) put on 61 for the third wicket in the one passage of play during the daylight hours when the bat threatened to dominate the ball.

"It was almost like he was batting on a different wicket," Green said at the end of play in an appreciation of Smith's positive innings. "I was really struggling out there but clearly he is a class above."

Despite the batting collapse in the final session, Green, who is still unable to bowl for at least another three months, was happy with his team's position after day one.

"We just wanted to give them a tricky last 45 minutes at the end and to get them one down is really crucial," he added.

An almost T20-style attitude to batting, typified by captain Pat Cummins' consecutive sixes off Seales, was also a reflection of Australia's eagerness to get as many runs as they could quickly in that final session to allow the bowlers a decent shot at the West Indies' depleted top order under the lights.

That helter-skelter tempo at the end contrasted sharply with the pedestrian opening session, made exciting only by the antics of opener Sam Konstas.

He was almost run out by Campbell and then dropped at third slip by Anderson off successive balls from Seales before being trapped leg-before for 17 off the first ball bowled by Greaves.

Anderson, who replaced Keacy Carty, is one of three changes to the West Indies team from the second test.

That match was Kraigg Brathwaite's 100th in test cricket and possibly his last, as he was dropped in favour of Louis for the series finale while left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican returned at the expense of fast-medium bowler Anderson Phillip.

---

WEST INDIES - Roston Chase (captain), John Campbell, Mikyle Louis, Kevlon Anderson, Brandon King, Shai Hope (wicketkeeper), Justin Greaves, Alzarri Joseph, Jomel Warrican, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales.

AUSTRALIA - Pat Cummins (captain), Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood.

Pakistan fast bowling legend Wasim Akram on Saturday hailed Australia's Mitchell Starc as a "modern-day great" for reaching 100 test appearances.

Starc, who draws comparisons with fellow left-arm quick Akram, will reach the milestone later Saturday when the third test against the West Indies begins in Jamaica.

"It is a big deal in this day and age to reach 100 tests, congratulations to Starc," Akram told AFP.

"That shows the quality and resolve of the man."

The 35-year-old becomes the 83rd player and 16th Australian to play 100 tests, and only the second Australian fast bowler after Glenn McGrath.

"To play 100 tests shows how consistent Starc has been and also shows where his priorities lie - that is to play red-ball cricket," said Akram.

"He has also played Twenty20 and league cricket but his career in test cricket is way ahead and to me he is a modern-day great."

Starc stands on 395 test wickets, so has the tantalising prospect of taking his landmark 400th wicket during his 100th test. His strike rate is remarkably similar to Akram, who retired in 2002 after taking 414 wickets in 104 tests.

Both players, said Akram, had suffered injuries to "every joint, every part of the body" during their careers.

"People often compare us but we have played in different eras," said Akram.

"He's got the pace, he's got the swing and he's bowling very intelligently to the new batsman, especially with the new ball."

Mitchell Starc is not keen on the attention he is receiving ahead of his 100th test, but the Australia fast bowler says it has been a privilege to pull on the 'baggy green cap' so many times.

Starc will become just the second Australian fast bowler after Glenn McGrath to play 100 tests in the third and final match against the West Indies in Kingston on Sunday, with a series sweep on the line in the day-night contest.

Much of the build-up has focused on the looming milestone, but the 35-year-old just wants the match to start.

"No, I don't like it. Get on with the cricket," a smiling Starc told reporters.

"Same as every other week, I guess. No, a chance to win another test match away from home, which is never easy to do."

The left-arm quick made his test debut against New Zealand in late 2011 and went on to establish himself as a key cog in Australia's pace attack.

"Growing up, I was always wanting to pull on the baggy green. I didn't think I'd play one game, but to have 99 chances to do that has been a real privilege," he said.

Starc took time to find his feet in test cricket but appeared to hit his stride after 2015, with batters in the longest format struggling against his swing and bounce.

"I was either in and out or not good enough or injured. So it's a pretty stop-start to the first portion of test cricket," Starc said.

"I had a bit of success along the way in white-ball cricket and got a bit more comfortable how things were going bowling-wise and started to put the pieces together with a few tools in red ball cricket and then had a bit of an extended run there."

400-WICKET MILESTONE

Starc is five test wickets away from becoming the fourth Australian player to take 400. McGrath is the country's most successful fast bowler with 563 wickets in 124 tests.

"I've always been lucky enough to have a bit of air speed, so it was kind of harnessing the rest around that," he said.

"I guess early doors, I had the ability to swing the new ball and bowl fast, but didn't have a lot through the period where the ball didn't do anything.

"Then to be able to bowl in different facets of the game, different conditions around the world - it's probably helped me get as far down the track as I have."

The wealth of experience in Australia's ranks helps them find solutions in difficult situations, captain Pat Cummins said after his side played themselves out of trouble to secure a series-clinching 133-run win over the West Indies on Sunday.

Australia's squad for the three-test series features seven cricketers who have played more than 50 tests and is largely made up of players in their 30s, with Sam Konstas (19), Cameron Green (26) and Matthew Kuhnemann (28) the only exceptions.

That experience shone through in the second test as Steve Smith scored a crucial knock of 71 to rescue them from a worrying 28-3 in the second innings, while Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc took three wickets apiece on day four.

"I think (experience) is a big part of it, we spoke about someone like a Steve Smith coming back," Cummins told reporters.

"He might not have played at Grenada but he's played on lots of wickets where you've got to find a different way to score.

"It might not be big drives down the ground or whatever it is, you've got to scrap your way to a 50 and I think that comes through experience.

"With experience, you've seen a lot of the same problems before, you have a level of calmness that you can work your way through the problem. As a captain it makes my life a lot easier knowing you've got lots of settled players there."

Despite their dominance in the Caribbean, Australia did not get the best out of opener Sam Konstas, who has an average of 18.25 from his four tests after scores of 25 and 0 in Grenada, and three and five in the first test in Bridgetown.

Cummins said the 19-year-old must not put undue pressure on himself and should focus on the big picture.

"Every innings feels like the biggest thing in the world," he added.

"But I think the stat is, even the best batters in the world don't hit their average three out of four times or something like that. You're going to fail more often than you're going to succeed.

"As long as you're a quick learner, as long as you're moving well and giving yourself the best chance, just keep doubling down on that and judge yourself after a series or so, not innings by innings."

The final test will be a day-night match in Kingston from July 12.

"We've been trying to get our hands on some (pink balls) but we haven't got some yet. Hopefully they're waiting for us in Jamaica," Cummins said.

"My experience in pink-ball (tests) in Australia is you never quite know what you're going to get. We've played a lot, but things can change really quickly so even when you feel like you're on top things can change quite fast."

Australia defeated the West Indies by 133 runs before tea on the fourth day of the second Test in Grenada on Sunday.

Set the daunting target of 277 in a low-scoring match on a two-paced pitch which made free strokeplay almost impossible, the home side side were bundled out for 143 off 34.3 overs for the visitors to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead and extend their 20-year hold on the Frank Worrell Trophy.

Australia now have the chance to complete a clean sweep of the three-match series when the final Test, a day/night fixture, gets underway next Saturday in Kingston, Jamaica.

Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon led the rout with three wickets each, the left-arm fast bowler lifting his overall Test tally to 394 to fuel the tantalising prospect of reaching the 400-wicket mark in his 100th Test in the series finale.

West Indies captain Roston Chase top scored with 34 while Shamar Joseph carved his way to 24 when the writing was already on the wall.

Joseph had taken two of the final three Australian second innings wickets to fall at the start of the day to finish with four for 66 as the visitors were dismissed for 243.

That haul included Alex Carey for 30 following his first innings effort of 63, important contributions lower down the order which earned him the man of the match award.

"The wickets have been challenging in this series so far but they have also been a lot of fun to play on because Test cricket can be grind," said Carey after Australia wrapped up the match when Jayden Seales skied a catch back to Lyon.

"I think it’s important to be able to adapt in-game. Credit also to the bowlers for the work they have put in for these two matches so far."

Once again it was the effectiveness of the Australian attack with the new ball which made all the difference.

- CHALLENGING TASK -

Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster and skipper Pat Cummins claimed a wicket each before lunch to have the West Indies reeling at 33 for four.

Chase and Shai Hope started the afternoon session positively but when Hope miscued an ambitious heave at Hazlewood to give the bowler a simple lobbed catch, the match was essentially over.

"We never really got those partnerships going with the new ball up front," Chase observed.

"It was always a challenging task but you have to believe. They guys have to try and stay confident and keep believing in themselves."

That quartet of early West Indian victims included Kraigg Brathwaite, the former captain enduring a miserable 100th Test as he was caught behind off Webster for just seven to follow on his first innings duck.

Before his demise he had seen the departure of opening partner John Campbell, trapped leg-before by the persistently accurate Hazlewood while Keacy Carty’s tortuous stay at the crease was ended via a catch to wicketkeeper Alex Carey off Starc.

Brathwaite was the third wicket to fall but he was to be joined in the dressing on the stroke of the lunch interval as Brandon King, dropped by Cameron Green at third slip off Cummins earlier, ran out of luck when he was comprehensively bowled to leave the West Indies innings in ruins.

 

Australia batter Cameron Green hopes his vital half-century on day three of the second test against the West Indies in Grenada can turn around a poor run of form and cement his spot in the top order.

Green was promoted to bat at No 3 for last month's World Test Championship final, his first test in more than a year, but scored only four runs and faced just five balls as Australia were beaten by South Africa.

Despite failing to impress, he retained his position for the three-test series against the West Indies, with captain Pat Cummins saying he viewed the 26-year-old allrounder as a long-term option in the slot.

Green had another underwhelming display in Australia's 159-run win in the first test, scoring 18 runs, but contributed 52 on Saturday and combined with Steve Smith for a crucial 93-run partnership that gave the visitors the upper hand in the second match.

"You always need innings here and there just to get you back and get you going, hopefully today was certainly one of those. A lot of good things I can get out of just spending time in the middle," Green told reporters.

"I think the balls faced has been trending up. The runs haven't been there, but there's certainly little positives I can take out of it. Hopefully, my output can be a little bit better than it has been, but today was a nice sign that things are hopefully trending well.

"You all know when you're playing that there's runs that need to be made, certainly when you're batting up the order for Australia. It's a tough game, so being able to bounce back from tough times is equally as important."

Australia ended day three on 221 for seven with a commanding 254-run lead heading into the final two days of the match, and will look to set an even more daunting target when play resumes later on Sunday.

Steve Smith's magnificent 71 guided Australia to 221 for seven at stumps on day three of the second test against West Indies in Grenada on Saturday, helping the tourists to build a commanding 254-run lead despite late wickets and persistent rain interruptions.

Australia, who began the day two wickets down after losing Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja on Friday, made it to lunch at 69 for three and appeared vulnerable on a pitch offering variable bounce and seam movement.

Nathan Lyon's nightwatchman role lasted 33 balls and yielded eight runs before he fell to Alzarri Joseph, with John Campbell taking the catch at third slip.

At that point, Australia were crying out for some heroics, and up stepped Smith and Cameron Green, who combined for a crucial 93-run partnership that turned the tide inexorably in the visitors' favour.

Green contributed a vital 52, his highest score batting at No 3, before falling immediately after reaching his half-century when he chopped a Shamar Joseph delivery on to his stumps.

Smith, back in the side after missing the first test with a finger injury, found his rhythm after a cautious start, smashing a six off Roston Chase and hitting seven boundaries in a patient knock that spanned 119 balls.

The veteran looked in complete control as he guided Australia through the middle sessions but his masterful innings ended when he was given out lbw to Justin Greaves after an unsuccessful review.

"We're in a nice spot," Smith said. "I don't think the wicket is going to get any better, it will probably do a few more tricks.

"The new ball is going to be pretty crucial for us. Hopefully we can get up to somewhere around 300 and then we'll see how it goes."

Travis Head provided explosive support with 39 from 60 balls, including four boundaries, before being bowled by a Shamar Joseph delivery that nipped back sharply and caught him completely off guard.

Beau Webster managed just two runs before edging Greaves to slip, but Alex Carey helped to avert a mini-crisis with an unbeaten 26 that included some aggressive strokeplay.

The pitch continued to pose challenges through the day, with balls keeping low at times and offering variable bounce that troubled the batsmen.

West Indies' bowlers toiled hard on the surface, with Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph and Greaves claiming two wickets apiece, but their efforts were undermined by Australia's patient accumulation of runs.

With Carey and Pat Cummins at the crease overnight, Australia's imposing advantage leaves West Indies facing an uphill battle.

Sunday promises to be decisive, with Australia needing a few more runs to set an even more daunting target, while West Indies require early wickets to keep alive their hopes.

Early strikes by Jayden Seales in the second innings left the second test evenly poised with Australia stuttering to 12-2 at the close of play on the second day of the second test against the West Indies in Grenada on Friday.

Having been held up by the home side's lower order before eventually taking a first innings lead of 33, the visitors will resume on the third morning ahead by 45 runs with eight wickets in hand.

The end of an enthralling day’s play.

More of the same tomorrow 💪🏾 #WIvAUS | #FullAhEnergy pic.twitter.com/IHKEUKNrXk

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 4, 2025

Seales, who continues to impress on his return to full fitness after a succession of injuries stalled his progress following his test debut in 2021, removed openers Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaj in successive overs to deepen Australia's concerns about the fragility of their top-order batting.

In dismissals which have become repetitive for the two players, Konstas dragged a delivery onto his stumps while Khawaja was palpably leg-before for the third consecutive innings.

Cameron Green, who has so far failed to impress in the No 3 position in this series, survived to the close with nightwatchman Nathan Lyon for company.

Lyon was the most successful of the Australian bowlers in the West Indies first innings total of 253.

His three wickets at a cost of 75 runs included top-scorer Brandon King, who made amends for a nightmarish debut test – with the bat and in the field – in Barbados last week with a fluent 75 off 108 balls with three sixes and eight fours.

A defiant knock from BK 💪🏾#WIvAUS | #FullAhEnergy pic.twitter.com/OMSR726e4d

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 4, 2025

“I enjoyed his intent to score while also showing a good solid defence when necessary,” said West Indies batting consultant Floyd Reifer in reflecting on King’s maiden test half-century.

"It was good to see him trying to put pressure back on the bowlers whenever he could."

While he would have been hoping for his team to come away with a first innings lead from day two, Reifer, a former West Indies captain, is backing the West Indies bowlers to continue with their good start to the second innings to keep the target to a manageable level as the hosts seek to square the series ahead of the final test under lights in Jamaica.

“The wicket is deteriorating a bit so if we can bowl them out cheaply and chase something within the region of 220 then we have a chance,” he said.

King’s partnerships with captain Roston Chase and wicketkeeper Shai Hope added an invaluable 105 runs after the West Indies had slipped to 64 for three in the morning session.

BRATHWAITE DUCK

Those early casualties included Kraigg Brathwaite, who endured the indignity of a duck in his 100th test.

Looking to give the home side a solid platform on a two-paced pitch, the former captain’s mistimed drive in the second over of the day offered Josh Hazlewood a low return catch which the seamer gleefully accepted to extend the batsman’s poor run so far in the series.

Two more wickets tumbled in the pre-lunch period but the triumvirate of King, Chase and Hope initiated a fightback which was extended to the lower order as the fast bowling Josephs, Alzarri and Shamar, put on 51 for the eighth wicket.

The last-wicket pair of Anderson Phillip and Seales held up Australia for more than 40 minuntes, necessitating Travis Head’s part-time off spin to end the innings.

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WEST INDIES: Roston Chase (capt), Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Brandon King, Shai Hope (wkt), Justin Greaves, Alzarri Joseph, Anderson Phillip, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales.

AUSTRALIA: Pat Cummins (capt), Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wkt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

A second consecutive century partnership between Alex Carey and Beau Webster lifted Australia to 286 all out on the opening day of the second Test against the West Indies at the National Cricket Stadium in Grenada on Thursday.

Rapidly fading light denied the Aussie opening bowlers a couple overs against the West Indies opening pair of former captain Kraigg Brathwaite, playing in his 100th test, and John Campbell.

Less than a week after their second innings effort in the first test paved the way to a 159-run victory in Barbados, the sixth-wicket pairing of Carey and Webster put on 112 to ensure that the Caribbean bowlers were again thwarted in pursuit of a swift demolition of the visitors' first innings.

Carey, as usual, was all positivity in a top score of 63 off 81 balls, an innings highlighted by one six and ten fours.

Webster, who continues to impress in his first year of test cricket, was more measured in his innings of 60, occupying 115 deliveries during which he struck one six and six fours, playing the sheet-anchor role through a succession of partnerships after Australia slipped to 93 for four in the morning session after opting to bat first.

He was eventually ninth out by the run out route, coming back for a non-existent second run in one of his few errors of judgement in the course of his innings.

“It was pretty simple really: keeping the straight balls out and trying to score when it was a bit wider or too straight," said Webster in talking about his innings after the day’s play.

"The wicket offered a little bit again so it was a really good effort to get the total we did."

'GOOD BOWLING ATTACK '

Webster was full of praise for wicketkeeper-batsman Carey for the manner in which he took on the West Indies bowlers.

"This series he has been fantastic and it's been a pleasure to be up at the other end," he stated.

"We would have loved to get 300-plus and I’m a little bit to blame for not getting us there, but we have a really good bowling attack that bowls with lots of runs on the board and sometimes with not many to defend. We back them 100 percent on this sort of surface."

Alzarri Joseph led the West Indies effort with four for 61 while Jayden Seales claimed two for 45 in a bowling attack dominated by pace after left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican was omitted in preference for fast-medium bowler Anderson Phillip.

After an indifferent first test, Joseph was the one to make the early strikes with two wickets, including the returning Steve Smith, while Phillip snared the other as the tourists lost three wickets for three runs midway through the morning session.

Following an opening stand of 47, Usman Khawaja was trapped leg-before by Joseph and Sam Konstas drove at Phillip, playing his first test for 18 months, to offer wicketkeeper Shai Hope a straightforward catch.

Smith, who missed the first test while recovering from the finger injury sustained in the World Test Championship Final against South Africa at Lord’s three weeks earlier, promptly miscued a pull at Joseph to be held by Phillip inches away from the long-leg boundary.

Travis Head then joined Cameron Green at 50 for three and the pair took Australia almost to the lunch interval when Green, badly missed by John Campbell at cover, fell two balls later for 26 to Seales via a catch at gully by West Indies captain Roston Chase.

Head’s demise shortly after lunch brought in Carey to partner Webster and, not for the first time in this brief series, it proved to be the turning point of the day.

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WEST INDIES: Roston Chase (capt), Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Brandon King, Shai Hope (wkt), Justin Greaves, Alzarri Joseph, Anderson Phillip, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales.

AUSTRALIA: Pat Cummins (capt), Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wkt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

Australia batsman Steve Smith will return for the second test against West Indies in Grenada, replacing Josh Inglis, captain Pat Cummins confirmed on Wednesday.

Cummins said Smith had recovered sufficiently from a dislocated finger to resume his position at No 4 for the match starting on Thursday.

Inglis misses out after scoring five and 12 in the only change following Australia's 159-run win in the Barbados series opener.

Smith dislocated his right little finger in last month's World Test Championship final and will be required to wear a splint for five weeks, Cricket Australia said.

However, the veteran came through a 30-minute batting session and slip catching drills unscathed.

"He's ready to go, the finger held up well," Cummins told reporters.

"He was really happy, particularly batting."

Australia XI:

Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood