Bridgetown, June 26, 2025 – The Frank Worrell Trophy Test between Australia and West Indies continued at a blistering pace on Day 2, setting the stage for what could become a rare three-day finish.
At stumps, Australia stood precariously at 92/4, holding a slim overall lead of 82 runs, with the West Indies once again asserting dominance late in the day.
The morning began with the West Indies resuming at 57/4, trailing Australia by 123 runs. Despite the early dismissal of Brandon King, the hosts staged a remarkable recovery. Skipper Roston Chase and Shai Hope stitched together a gritty 67-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Both batsmen looked composed before falling in back-to-back controversial decisions that could have swung the momentum even further in the home side’s favor. Eventually, the West Indies were bowled out for 190, managing a slender 10-run lead. Mitchell Starc starred with the ball for Australia, grabbing three wickets, while Hazlewood, Cummins, and Webster chipped in with two each.
The early conclusion of the West Indies innings meant an extended final session for Australia. They began their second innings positively, but the tide turned quickly. The West Indies bowling quartet—Shamar Joseph, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales, and Greaves—put relentless pressure on the Aussies. Each seamer picked up a wicket as Australia stumbled to 92/4 by close. Only Beau Webster looked relatively comfortable on the challenging surface.
This match could well signal a new dawn for West Indies cricket. Their fast bowlers have shown hunger, accuracy, and spirit, consistently testing Australia’s technique. The seam-friendly surface, marked by bare patches and uneven bounce, has made scoring difficult, keeping bowlers in play at all times.
In a post-day interview, Australia’s Mitchell Starc acknowledged the tough conditions and credited the West Indies for their disciplined bowling. While cheekily suggesting 700 would be a good score to defend, he admitted that any total above 180 could be match-defining, given the state of the pitch.
With 24 wickets having already fallen across two days and the pitch showing little sign of flattening out, both teams will look to seize early momentum on Day 3. The first session could determine whether Australia set a defendable target or if the West Indies seamers continue their relentless march toward a famous victory.