WI VS AUS 1ST TEST

Pretty detailed interview from Starc. How much is enough on this surface? Cleverly, he did not say the number which can be good enough. 180 nearly proved enough in the first innings. Already 4 batters are gone in the third innings. On Day 1, we saw 14 wickets fall for 237 runs, that's roughly 17 runs per wicket. On Day 2, 225 runs have been scored for the loss of 10 wickets, which increases the average to nearly 23 runs per dismissal. So that means, the pitch might be getting better for batting and that could be good news for West Indies. Still, there is some indifferent bounce on offer and you don't want to be chasing anything more than 200 in the 4th innings. Australia are effectively 82/4 but a quick burst from the seamers in the morning could see them quickly go through that lower order, as there is not much batting post Carey. On the other hand, if the Aussies manage to bat through the first session, they will be somewhere around 150-160, which can they give them a better shot of taking that target to 200. Another exciting day beckons and we reckon that it could be the last day of the match. The first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 2 pm GMT but our buildup will begin well in advance. So do tune in early. In the meanwhile, you can also check out the scores from the second Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Australia's MITCHELL STARC is up for a chat with Daren Ganga. On the feeling of having restricted West Indies to 190, Starc recognizes that the Windies were playing pretty well and hence, it was a good effort from the Aussies. Overall, he feels that it is an indifferent wicket and if you bowl in the right areas long enough, you can generate results. Details that there is some movement sideways and is looking forward to Friday. On the change in the pitch from Day 1, Mitchell says that he is not sure there was any change. Details that there has been indifferent bounce and that is because of the bare patches. Stays on the boundary and says that it might change come Friday but so far, reckons that it has been the same over the two days. On the controversial decisions regarding the dismissals of Roston Chase and Shai Hope, MS smiles and says that players are not allowed to answer such questions and those are for the match officials. Admits though that in one way, they came in Australia's favour. On what could be a sufficient target to defend on this surface, Mitch replies 700, bursting into a laughter. On a serious note, he says that there is a lot a time in the game and the wicket has enough for bowlers. Hopes that his batters get to a total that can be defended. On his advice to batters on how to bat on this wicket, Mitchell Starc smiles and says that if anyone is getting batting advice from him, it means trouble. Again, switching back to a serious note, Starc says that the batters need to get a partnership in, just like Chase and Hope had in West Indies' first innings. Opines that if you absorb some pressure, there are some runs to be scored but they are not going to be easy.

This is the dawn of a new West Indian era. Shamar Joseph has been like fire, coming at the batters consistently, while he has been supported well by the others. All the four seamers - Shamar, Alzarri, Seales and Greaves got a wicket apiece, despite the controversies which surrounded them in the third innings as well. There has been no let off from any bowler and that is why, run scoring has been at a premium. Apart from a few loose deliveries towards the end of the day, the bowling has primarily been spot on.

West Indies getting bowled out roughly 25 minutes before Tea meant that the break was taken early. That also meant that Australia had to bat for nearly 3 hours in the final session. They started positively as West Indies struggled to control the new ball, but once they found that control, the wickets started to come. Barring Beau Webster, no one has been able to adapt to this surface in this innings, despite seeing off a lot of deliveries. Once again, like the first innings, the Aussies got a fair bit of chances through dropped catches, but still, have lost 4 wickets before close.

The day began with West Indies at 57/4, trailing Australia by 123. An early wicket of Brandon King put the Aussies on course for a decent first-innings lead but a fighting stand of 67 for the 6th wicket between skipper Roston Chase and Shai Hope ensured that the visitors' chances of getting ahead got grim. Both players were playing well but got dismissed in two moments of controversy as the hosts slipped from 139/5 to 190 all out. It could be looked like what could have been, had both, Chase and Hope not been given out, but it is what it is. Mitchell Starc took 3 wickets while Hazlewood, Cummins and Webster took 2 apiece. Not a single half centurion was seen in that West Indian innings.

This Test match has moved along at breakneck speed and we could be in the face of a 3-day Test. Australia bowled well post Lunch to restrict West Indies to a lead of 10, but the hosts have bounced back in a long last session, of nearly 3 hours, to end the day on top.

Easily negotiated by Travis Head. Hard length at the bodyline, a tad on the shorter side. Head hops and nudges it away towards mid-wicket for a single. That will be STUMPS ON DAY 2!

Aggressive stuff from Alzarri Joseph here. A sharp bumper, bowled right over middle and at 140.6 kph. TH ducks under it. Some real chin music on display.

Short of a good length and around off, Alzarri really bowls a heavy ball and angles it in. Travis Head knocks it down just into the off side and thinks about the single but decides against it.

Back of a length, angling in, just outside off, Head hops on the back foot and blocks it into the off side.

Better this time! On a length, on middle, Head gets behind the line of the ball and blocks it.

Full and outside off, Travis Head initially shapes up to drive, but then bails out at the last moment, Ian Bishop, who is at the ropes, to interview the player of the day, is chatting with the cameraman and is directly in line of Head's eyesight. That distracts the South Australian and he lets the umpire know about it, asking Bishop to move away from there.

Should be the final over of the day.

Hits the hard length and bowls it straight on middle, Beau Webster gets his hands out in front of the pads and keeps it out.

Similar line and length, a tad shorter and straighter on off. Webster plays it off the back foot towards cover-point again.

Back of a length and outside off, Beau Webster presses back up on his toes and punches it square towards cover-point.

A touch full on middle leg, Beau pushes it to mid on.

Looks like that has stung Travis Head. Or it is just smart batsmanship, with around 8 minutes left for close. The umpires are hovering around, asking Head to hurry up as the physio is called out to the middle. Seems like he has been hit on that left knuckle, probably struggling a bit to make a fist. Head seems to be in no real hurry to get going and that's 3 minutes taken off the timer. Nearly an over taken off. All ready now.