The Kensington Oval in Bridgetown buzzed with excitement. West Indies fast bowlers Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph put on a stunning performance, bowling Australia out for 180 runs on the first day of the opening Test match.
Seales claimed a brilliant five-wicket haul. Joseph’s fiery spell rocked Australia’s top order. Australia’s bowlers fought back by stumps, leaving the West Indies at 57 for four. The hosts trailed by 123 runs. This set up a gripping battle for the days ahead.
The match ignited early when Joseph struck in the fourth over. He trapped teenage debutant Sam Konstas’ leg before wicket. A tense review confirmed the decision. This sparked wild celebrations among the Bridgetown crowd. Joseph’s pace continued to trouble Australia’s batsmen. The visitors slumped to 22 for three. Seales joined the attack with precision. He bowled fuller deliveries to exploit the lively pitch. His clever bowling forced Cameron Green to edge a ball to Justin Greaves at second slip. Josh Inglis soon followed, top-edging a shot for just five runs. The ball soared to the keeper.
A #WTC27 start to remember for Jayden Seales 🙌
More from #WIvAUS 📝 https://t.co/POOGKQXvQB pic.twitter.com/uXpFbvNa3k
— ICC (@ICC) June 26, 2025Australia’s Brief Resistance
Usman Khawaja and Travis Head offered hope for Australia. They built an 89-run partnership. Khawaja showed grit, scoring 47 runs. Yet, he fell just short of a half-century. Joseph dismissed him at a crucial moment. This broke Australia’s momentum. Head fought on, reaching 59 runs. Greaves ended his resistance with a sharp catch behind. The middle order crumbled quickly. Beau Webster scored only 11 runs. Alex Carey managed eight before departing. Seales spoke about their strategy. He said they aimed to bowl full and target the stumps. This forced errors from Australia’s aggressive batsmen.
Shamar Joseph has 4+ wickets in an innings in all three Tests he has played against Australia ♨️ pic.twitter.com/p5JCIKqTEN
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 25, 2025Seales shone brightest, completing a five-wicket haul. He dismissed captain Pat Cummins, who scored 28 runs, and swept through the tail. This was a personal milestone for the 25-year-old. He had missed a prior Australia match due to injury. “This one was special for me,” Seales told reporters. “Shamar’s spell made it easier for us.” Australia, missing Steve Smith due to injury and Marnus Labuschagne, struggled against the pace of the Caribbean. Their reshuffled lineup couldn’t cope with the relentless pressure.
Australia’s bowlers ensured the day ended competitively. Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood struck late. They claimed four West Indies wickets before stumps. The hosts now face a tough task on Day 2. They must close a 123-run gap. The pitch’s pace and bounce promise more challenges. Both teams showed fight, making this Test evenly poised.
