San Francisco Frontiers - Shamar Joseph gives West Indies strong start against Australia

It is Shamar Joseph's first encounter with the Aussies since an outstanding effort in Brisbane 17 months ago when he bowled the Caribbean side to their first Test triumph down under for 27 years.

At the Kensington Oval, the Guyanese pacer dispatched Sam Konstas and Cameron Green in quick succession and should have also accounted for Usman Khawaja but for a dropped catch at first slip by new West Indies captain Roston Chase.

Khawaja made the most of that chance on six and weathered the storm on a spicy surface to reach 32 at the interval in partnership with fellow left-hander Travis Head (21 not out).

Head had joined Khawaja at 22 for three when Josh Inglis skied an attempted pull off Jayden Seales for wicketkeeper Shai Hope to claim a comfortable catch.

Khawaja and Head capitalised on an indulgence in short-pitched bowling by Seales and the third fast bowler, Alzarri Joseph, Khawaja pulling Seales for six into the stand at midwicket to highlight an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 43 runs.

Opting to bat first on winning the toss, Australian captain Pat Cummins would have been looking on anxiously as Shamar Joseph, bowling a consistent, testing line at pace, trapped Konstas leg-before in his second over.

He should have had Green for a second-ball "duck" but debutant Brandon King grassed a straightforward chance at gully.

That miss did not prove costly as Green, on three, edged low to Justin Greaves at second slip two overs later.

Australia are playing a Test match without either Steve Smith or Marnus Labuschagne in their batting line-up for the first time since November 2018 and the early success of the West Indies fast bowlers will only fuel conversations about the stability of the visitors' batting ahead of the next Ashes series in five months' time.

U.Campbell--SFF