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Australia clinch series win over West Indies, third Test in doubt over stadium concerns
@Source: news.com.au
Set the daunting target of 277 in a low-scoring match on a two-paced pitch which made free stroke play almost impossible, the home side were bundled out for 143 off 34.3 overs for the visitors to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead and extend their 20-year hold on the Frank Worrell Trophy.
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Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon led the rout with three wickets each, the left-arm fast bowler lifting his overall Test tally to 395 to fuel the tantalising prospect of reaching the 400-wicket mark in his 100th Test in the series finale.
West Indies captain Roston Chase top scored with 34 while Shamar Joseph carved his way to 24 when the writing was already on the wall.
Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey was named player of the match for his scores of 63 and 30.
“The wickets have been challenging in this series so far but they have also been a lot of fun to play on because Test cricket can be grind,” said Carey after Australia wrapped up the match when Jayden Seales skied a catch back to Lyon.
“I think it’s important to be able to adapt in-game. Credit also to the bowlers for the work they have put in for these two matches so far.”
The Aussies have held the Frank Worrell Trophy since 1995 and have been unbeaten in the Caribbean since 2003.
The result opens the door for one of Australia’s fast bowlers like Josh Hazlewood or Mitchell Starc to have a rest in the third Test and give Scott Boland a chance to play.
Australia could also choose to play a second spinner and bring Matt Kuhnemann into the XI.
The tricky pitch aside, Australia’s top order looks shaky and with Sam Konstas struggling for runs, the Aussies still have plenty of unanswered questions about their batting line-up with just one Test before this summer’s Ashes.
The third and final Test gets underway on Sunday July 12 in Kingston, which is a day-night pink ball Test.
But there are concerns the match may not be able to go ahead due to concerns over ongoing delays in stadium infrastructure upgrades.
New floodlights were installed recently at Kingston’s Jamaica Park but ESPN reports one area of the ground at Sabina Park is not sufficiently lit under the lights.
Jamaican Cricket Association President Dr Donovan Bennett told the Jamaican Observer: “I’m pretty sure about that (being ready).
“I’m a little bit uneasy because I would have hoped that everything would have been completed by now.
“But when you’re doing construction, there are unforeseen challenges, that’s exactly what happened with the lights and the scoreboard.
“But we’re on target, I’m confident that we’ll be OK with both the lighting and the scoreboard for the 12th, when the games are scheduled, I’m sure we’ll be OK.”
Bennett added: “Certain areas of the field are way above the international requirements but there’s one area that we need to work on to get it up … the English company that supplied the lights will be here on Monday with a laser beam to do the final finetuning.”
The first two T20s of a five-match series are also being played in Kingston.
Only one day-night Test has previously been held in the Caribbean — the West Indies played Sri Lanka in Barbados in 2018.
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