West Indies and their captain Jason Holder have been fined by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for maintaining a slow over rate during the first Test match against Australia in Hobart.
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The recalled fast bowler failed to take a wicket in the West Indies first innings with his new more front-on style but made adjustments and claimed five for 27 in the second innings to trigger a batting collapse.
It was Australia’s second-biggest victory in 114 Tests against the Caribbean islanders and gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in a three-match series, which concludes with Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.
He sought damage control by setting deep fields; late in the day, he turned to the batsmen Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood for their versions of off-spin.
They resumed on 207 for six in their first innings, with Bravo needing six more runs for his century – and he got there in the first over after striking Peter Siddle for his 18th and 19th fours.
“It was 121-3 at one point and the game was in the balance and we were able to put on a big partnership between Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh that really changed the course of the match”.
Lehmann said: “We will have to see if Uzzy is fit and then we will have a dilemma”.
Australia’s Usman Khawaja plays a shot during play on day one of the first cricket test between Australia and New Zealand in Brisbane.
Khawaja will now need to prove his fitness before Sunday’s clash with the Melbourne Stars, which also acts as his only remaining fixture before the Boxing Day Test against the West Indies at the MCG.
The retirement of Mitchell Johnson and long-term injuries to Mitchell Starc (foot/ankle) and Pat Cummins (back) have forced selectors to rethink Australia’s Test attack.
Australia enforced the follow-on and took only nine balls to turn the screw further, Rajendra Chandrika edging Pattinson low to Steven Smith at second slip without scoring.
As Jason Holder slowly and ruefully trudged back to the pavilion after his second-innings dismissal on Saturday, to a leg-side tickle to the keeper, it was the first sign that the pressure after his third defeat as captain – two by an innings – was impacting on the young, inexperienced leader. Their tactics were mystifying, the bowling club standard and, above all else, their game was riddled with indiscipline and attitude of which three senior players, Jerome Taylor, Kemar Roach and Marlon Samuels, were most culpable.
Bravo, on 94 overnight, was the last man out for 108 after raising his seventh Test century.
“After losing Shannon (Gabriel to injury), we were a bowler short, so it was easier to rotate the three fast bowlers from the top”.
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He faced 177 balls and hit 20 fours.
