Australia Turns Tables in Barbados with Commanding Test Win
It was always going to be tough for Australia walking into Bridgetown. Their last Test victory in the Caribbean came way back in 2015. The pitch was slow, the hosts confident after a first-innings lead, and Australian fans were bracing for another frustrating chapter. But cricket rarely reads the script, does it? By the end of the third day, West Indies were all out for just 141, and Australia had bossed their way to a 159-run win, flipping the narrative in electric fashion.
Australia stumbled out of the gates. Only scraping together 180 in their first innings, they looked wobbly as the West Indies’ seamers found their groove. Alzarri Joseph did the most damage, grabbing 5-87 in a gutsy burst. The home side weren’t exactly cruising either, but managed to squeeze out a slender lead, posting 190. That deficit might look insignificant on paper, but after a shaky opening for Australia and the memory of previous series losses, it felt huge.
Key Partnerships Spark Australia’s Fightback
Everything changed for Australia in the second dig. The top order still struggled, but then Travis Head—so often their middle-order insurance—and the ever-reliable Alex Carey dug in just when the pressure was highest. Head made a rapid 61, showing intent and putting the Windies attack on the defensive. Carey added a composed 65, steering the lower middle order through tricky spells. But the spark in the innings came from Adam Webster, batting with real grit for his 63 runs. These three managed to dig Australia out of trouble and push them up to 310, handing the Windies a tall fourth-innings target of 301.
For a flicker of a moment, the Barbadian crowd might’ve believed. But that hope didn’t last long. The West Indies batting, already fragile in the first innings, simply folded in the face of Australia’s relentless pace. Josh Hazlewood, known for his laser-focused line and length, went from workhorse to destroyer. He claimed 5-43, tearing the heart out of the West Indies lineup. None of the batters crossed fifty. With patience and swing, Hazlewood broke partnerships and never let up. Mitch Starc and Pat Cummins nipped in for key wickets too, while the Aussie fielders caught everything that came their way.
West Indies’ only bright spot was Joseph’s earlier five-wicket haul, but their batters couldn’t stand up to the pressure. The manner of the collapse, losing their last six wickets in a dramatic afternoon session, left the home fans shaking their heads. Australia's energy in the field, sharp tactics, and fierce comeback made a clear statement: nobody was coasting in the Baggy Green this week.
This win isn’t just about ending a dry spell. It’s a reminder of Australia’s steel when the chips are down and their depth in both batting and bowling. For the West Indies, it’s another tough lesson about chasing in the fourth innings and the work they still have to do rebuilding their Test side. As the teams look ahead to the next match, everyone in the Caribbean knows the Australians have found their rhythm again on West Indian soil.
