Why Aussie Test skipper Pat Cummins was left FUMING at umpire as Sam Konstas’ miserable tour of the West Indies continues
Australia’s top order are set to face a tough final examination in the West Indies, after the hosts were bowled out for 143 at dinner on day two of the third Test in Jamaica.
Teenager Sam Konstas continued his miserable tour of the Carribean, forced to trudge off for a fifth-ball duck off the bowling of Shamar Joseph.
But the main talking point of the first session was a potential missed chance to run out John Campbell on 15.
After the right-hander dropped the ball to Cummins at mid-off and took a quick single, Australia’s captain threw down the stumps with just one to aim at.
There was a minimal appeal from the Australians, as Campbell had looked to have made his ground easily before replays showed he had bounced his bat.
Cummins remonstrated with umpire Nitin Menon after the next ball, and could be heard to say ‘I appealed’, while asking while it was not referred upstairs.
Australia’s captain Pat Cummins, left, and umpire Nitin Menon engage in a heated conversation
The Aussies decision to bring in Scott Boland for Nathan Lyon paid off, with the pace bowler taking three big wickets
Teenager Sam Konstas failed with the bat yet again, leaving the field with a fifth-ball duck
‘Check it out. Why wouldn’t you just check it out?’ he added during a heated conversation that lasted around 30 seconds.
The call would have been a difficult one for third-umpire Richard Kettleborough, with it unclear whether Campbell’s bat passed the crease before it bounced up.
Cricket’s laws state a batter has made their ground once either their body or bat touches the ground past the popping crease when completing a run.
Campbell went to the tea break unbeaten on 31, aided by four overthrows from Steve Smith just before the break.
A win in Jamaica would hand Australia a 3-0 series whitewash, and give the tourists the best possible start to trying to win back the World Test Championship in 2027.
Having left out spinner Nathan Lyon while fit for the first time in 12 years, Australia’s four-strong pace attack still got plenty of seam movement on day two.
Hazlewood removed Brandon King for 14 in that fashion, seaming one back into the right-hander’s front pad to have him lbw.
Cummins then made use of extra bounce to have Roston Chase (18) caught at slip, with one that reared up and took the outside edge.
The West Indies batsman were accused of playing loose shots as they fell like dominoes at Sabina Park in Jamaica
The Aussies have a commanding lead and will look to clean sweep the series in the West Indies
Boland justified his call up ahead of Nathan Lyon with three wickets, while Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood claimed two each as Australia took an 82-run lead.
Boland made most use of it in his 3-34, removing the Windies’ two top scorers in John Campbell (36) and Shai Hope (23).
The Victorian first had Campbell lbw leaving a ball that angled into the left-hander, before nipping a ball back between Hope’s bat and pad to bowl him.
Boland then finished the job by bowling Shamar Joseph, wrapping up the 36-year-old’s best Test figures outside of Australia.
Hazlewood had earlier trapped opener Brandon King lbw with another ball that seamed in at the right-hander, before knocking over Mikyle Louis for seven.
And while it means Australia are in the box seat to claim a 3-0 series sweep in the Frank Worrell Trophy, it isn’t all good news for the tourists’ under-fire top order.
Louis’ ugly attempt at an across-the-line slog prompted a collapse of 6-48 for West Indies, after having fought hard for the first half on Sunday (Monday AEST).
The capitulation was best summed up by Justin Greaves (18) being run out by Sam Konstas from the deep-cover boundary, after the allrounder didn’t sprint the first two runs.
