Australia has retained the Frank Worrell Trophy, and it only took seven sessions of play.
The West Indies suffered a crushing ten-wicket defeat in the first Test at Adelaide Oval as Pat Cummins’ men took an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
However, Australia’s victory was marred by an injury scare for opener Usman Khawaja, who copped a bouncer to the jaw in the final moments of the match.
With one run required for victory, West Indies debutant Shamar Joseph produced a searing bouncer that struck Khawaja on the grill, with the Queenslander immediately showing signs of discomfort.
The dazed Khawaja, who was spitting out blood, retired hurt after consulting team medics, leaving Marnus Labuschagne to hit the winning runs a couple of deliveries later.
Earlier, Josh Hazlewood claimed a five-wicket haul, his 11th in Tests, to help roll the West Indies for 120 in the second innings, setting the Australians a 26-run target for victory.
Opening batters Steve Smith (11 not out) and Khawaja (9 retired hurt) got the job done before lunch, extending Australia’s unbeaten run against the West Indies to 20 consecutive Tests.
“It’s nice to get the weekend off now,” Hazlewood laughed while chatting to Fox Cricket after the match.
The Frank Worrell Trophy, which has been in Australia’s possession since 1995, will remain down under for at least another 18 months.
“We didn’t bat well in both innings; the top order didn’t get going,” West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite confessed in the post-match presentation.
“That whole experience will help them, and it’s important for them to learn, and learn fast.”
The Australians arrived at Adelaide Oval on Friday morning needing four wickets to wrap up the innings, hoping to steam through the West Indies tail and avoid batting again.
Despite a wayward opening over, Mitchell Starc snared the first breakthrough with a well-directed bouncer at wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva, who top-edged the bumper towards Hazlewood at deep fine leg. Da Silva, the West Indies’ last recognised batter, threw his head back in disbelief, having fallen in almost identical fashion during the first innings.
Alzarri Joseph was the next to depart, wafting at a wide delivery from Starc and feathering the Kookaburra through to gloveman Alex Carey, who swallowed the simple chance.
Gudakesh Motie suffered a monumental brain fade at the other end, leaving a delivery from Hazlewood that thumped into off stump, sheepishly trudging off for 3.
The dismissal gave Hazlewood his five-wicket haul, acknowledging the modest Adelaide crowd by raising the Kookaburra above his head. The 33-year-old finished the match with career-best figures of 9-79.
West Indies debutant Shamar Joseph, who has become an immediate fan favourite for his all-round heroics this week, ensured Australia would need to bat again by clobbering his first delivery through the covers for a boundary, prompting the loudest applause of the morning.
Joseph and veteran teammate Kemar Roach combined for an entertaining 26-run partnership for the tenth wicket before spinner Nathan Lyon wrapped up the innings in the 36th over, with Carey whipping off the bails for a egulation stumping.
The match outcome was already a forgone conclusion when Smith and Khawaja walked out to bat for the run chase, but it provided the new-look opening pair with an opportunity to test themselves against the swinging ball on a two-paced wicket.
Smith looked in sublime touch as he thumped a pull shot through mid-wicket, but Khawaja’s concussion scare in the seventh over put a damper on the victory.
Earlier, the SACA paid tribute to former Australian cricketer David Hookes, who passed away ten years ago to the day, by leaning a Gray-Nicolls bat against the stumps before play.
