West Indies Bowlers Shine in Pink-Ball Test at Sabina Park

Australia Collapse Under Lights in Day-Night Test

In an exciting start to the first-ever day-night pink-ball Test at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica, the West Indies cricket team bowled out Australia for just 225 runs on Day 1 of the third Test match on July 12, 2025. The Australia vs West Indies match saw the West Indies bowlers, led by Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales, and Justin Greaves, make the most of the floodlit conditions to trigger a dramatic collapse. Australia, who were in a solid position at 157/3, lost their last seven wickets for only 68 runs, giving the West Indies a strong position at stumps.

Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales, and Justin Greaves Dominate

The West Indies bowlers were the stars of the day, with Shamar Joseph leading the charge. He finished with an impressive 4 wickets for 33 runs, while Jayden Seales and Justin Greaves took three wickets each. Their disciplined bowling under the Sabina Park floodlights caused havoc for the Australian batters. The pink Dukes ball, known for its swing and seam movement, worked perfectly for the West Indies pace attack, especially in the final session.

Shamar Joseph struck key blows, dismissing Australia’s captain Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, who was playing his 100th Test match. Jayden Seales got the important wickets of Sam Konstas and Cameron Green, while Justin Greaves removed Steve Smith and Alex Carey. The West Indies fielders also played a big role, with Shai Hope taking a stunning one-handed catch to dismiss Usman Khawaja and substitute fielder Anderson Phillip grabbing a spectacular diving catch to send Travis Head back.

Australia’s Batting Struggles in Tricky Conditions

Australia won the toss and chose to bat first, but their innings started slowly. Sam Konstas, hoping to secure his spot as an opener before the Ashes, couldn’t build on his watchful start and was trapped LBW by Jayden Seales for 17. Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green took Australia to 50/1 at lunch, but Khawaja fell to a brilliant catch by Shai Hope early in the second session.

Steve Smith (48) and Cameron Green (46) put on a solid 61-run partnership for the third wicket, giving Australia some hope. However, the game turned after the dinner break when Seales bowled Green with a beauty that hit the top of off-stump. From there, Australia’s batting collapsed under the lights. Smith, Beau Webster, Travis Head, and Alex Carey all fell to loose shots or sharp fielding, while Mitchell Starc was dismissed for a duck in his milestone 100th Test.

West Indies Batting Faces Tough Challenge

With 9 overs to bat at the end of the day, the West Indies faced a tricky period under lights. Mitchell Starc, despite his batting failure, struck early by dismissing debutant opener Kevlon Anderson for 3, as the ball swung in and hit the stumps. However, Brandon King (8 not out) and captain Roston Chase (3 not out) played cautiously to take West Indies to 16/1 at stumps, trailing by 209 runs.

The West Indies had to use a makeshift opening pair because regular openers John Campbell and Mikyle Louis were injured in the field. Despite this, King and Chase showed grit to survive the challenging conditions against Australia’s pace attack, led by Starc and Pat Cummins.

Why Nathan Lyon Was Left Out

In a surprising move, Australia left out their star spinner Nathan Lyon for this Test, opting for an all-pace attack with Scott Boland, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood. Selector Tony Dodemaide called it a “conditions-based decision” due to the pink Dukes ball’s behavior and the grassy Sabina Park pitch. Lyon, who has 43 wickets in pink-ball Tests, was disappointed but supported the team’s choice to go with four fast bowlers to keep the pressure on.

Moments of Day 1 at Sabina Park

Here’s a quick look at the standout moments from Day 1:

Event	Details
Australia’s Total	225 all out in 70.3 overs
Top Scorers	Steve Smith (48), Cameron Green (46)
West Indies Bowling	Shamar Joseph (4/33), Jayden Seales (3 wickets), Justin Greaves (3 wickets)
West Indies Batting	16/1 in 9 overs, trail by 209 runs
Key Wicket	Mitchell Starc dismisses Kevlon Anderson for 3
Standout Fielding	Shai Hope’s one-handed catch, Anderson Phillip’s diving catch

With Australia already leading the series 2-0 after wins in Barbados and Grenada, the West Indies are fighting to avoid a whitewash at home. The pink-ball Test at Sabina Park is only the second day-night Test in the Caribbean, and the conditions are proving tough for batters. The West Indies will need Brandon King, Roston Chase, and their injured openers (if fit) to step up on Day 2 to close the gap. Meanwhile, Australia’s pace attack, led by Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, will look to exploit the pink ball’s movement under lights.

This Australia vs West Indies Test match is part of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle, and both teams are eager to gain valuable points. Fans can follow live updates and the match scorecard on platforms like ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz.

The day-night Test at Sabina Park is a historic moment for West Indies cricket, as it’s the first time the venue is hosting a pink-ball Test. The West Indies cricket team is rebuilding under coach Daren Sammy and captain Roston Chase, and a strong performance here could boost their confidence. For Australia, this match is a chance to test their skills in unfamiliar conditions with the pink Dukes ball, which behaves differently from the Kookaburra ball they’re used to.