Shamar Joseph Cleans Up Beau Webster With An Absolute Peach On Day 1 Of First Test

The opening day at Barbados’s legendary Kensington Oval was nothing short of a fast-bowler festival. A whopping 14 wickets tumbled under a pitch that offered ample seam, swing, and bounce—making batting a stern test for both teams.

Shamar Joseph’s “Jaffa” Dazzles the Crowd

The undoubted highlight came in the 44th over, when West Indies pacer Shamar Joseph unleashed a sensational delivery to dismiss Australia’s number six, Beau Webster. Bowling wide of the crease, Joseph angled one in sharply—it pitched and straightened late, skidding past Webster’s outside edge to knock over off stump in spectacular fashion.

This was one of those once-in-a-lifetime deliveries—bringing back memories of bowling artistry at its finest.

Seales & Joseph: A New Fast-Bowling Partnership

Australia’s innings began disastrously. Friday’s opening morning saw them collapse to 22/3, undone by electric spells from Joseph, Jayden Seales, and Alzarri Joseph.

Seales produced a clinical, workmanlike performance, claiming his third five-wicket haul—finishing with 5/60.
Joseph was no slouch either, ending with a career-best 4/46, including that match-winning jaffa.

Together, they tore through the top and middle order, bundling Australia out for a paltry 180 runs —their lowest first-innings total ever in the West Indies.

Australia’s Response: Lightning-Bolt Bowling

Australia’s bowlers fought back valiantly. Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood snapped up four quick wickets in the evening session. By stumps, West Indies were 57/4, still trailing by 123 runs and leaving the game delicately poised.

Voices from the Field

Jayden Seales, reflecting on his performance, called it “my most special one,” explaining that despite not feeling at his best, he capitalized on key moments.
The ICC hailed Seales and Joseph’s performance as reminiscent of the legendary Caribbean bowling units of old.

Tactical Breakdown

Seam & Bounce: Both sides exploited the pitch’s characteristics effectively.
- West Indies with disciplined lines and aggressive lengths up front.
- Australia, initially contained, later improved with pace variation.
Dropped Trails: Four catches were dropped during the day—potential game-changers that could have tilted momentum further.

Context & Significance

This match marks the start of the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship cycle. West Indies strike first and strongly. Their four-pronged pace attack has re-established the Caribbean as a forces to be reckoned with in red-ball cricket.

Australia, meanwhile, begin with alarm bells ringing. Their top order collapse raises serious concerns as they head toward the Ashes later this year.

What Lies Ahead

West Indies will look to build on this strong start—Pat Cummins and his bowlers will aim to apply the squeeze early tomorrow.
Australia must regroup—Travis Head and Usman Khawaja need to fire tomorrow to extend the lead.

Tomorrow’s key question: Will the West Indian fast-bowling unit maintain its early pressure, or will Australia’s batsmen stage a recovery?

Day 1 has reminded us of cricket’s core drama: when the ball seams and swing under lights, even the best lineups can unravel. Kensington Oval’s fast bowlers have seized the day—leaving a thrilling Test hanging in the balance.

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