Opener Kraigg Brathwaite stroked an enterprising half-century but West Indies’ batting wobbled to give Australia the advantage on the opening day of the final cricket Test here yesterday.
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The SCG pitch lived up to its reputation as being spin-friendly with Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe sharing three wickets to justify the hosts’ decision to play two specialist spinners for a home Test for the first time since 2006.
When they returned after lunch the day’s tally rose to 11.2 overs bowled, with Denesh Ramdin on 30 and Kemar Roach yet to score when the rain set in.
76 overs were required to be bowled by the end of play, with an additional half an hour available in the final session to account for a slow over rate.
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh said it was a disappointing day three for the Australians.
However, Carlos Brathwaite and Ramdin came together in a seventh wicket stand now worth 48, to stall Australia’s progress and ensure West Indies were still afloat at the close.
Defeat for South Africa in their ongoing series against England would then send Australia back to the summit but even if the English fail to build on their winning start, February’s two-Test tour of New Zealand offers Smith’s side another chance.
Rain is predicted to interrupt every day of the contest but Lyon was certain there would be enough play for a result.
“Then we might get more overs in towards the back end of the match if the wicket keeps spinning”.
Brathwaite was dismissed cheaply by Lyon in both innings during the Boxing Day Test, but fared better on Sunday before falling to the spinner again.
“Rajendra hurt himself in the warm-up before play and has gone for scans but it appears to be a groin injury”, a team spokesman said.
A result will be up to the weather gods, he said.
Showers washed out most of the post-lunch session, while players scurried off the ground after tea because of another downpour. First rain delayed the start and only 3 balls of the Nathan Lyon over were possible. “We need our bowlers to be a lot more disciplined”.
“I didn’t expect the first day to spin”, Kraigg Brathwaite said.
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There is a lot there to work with, we have seen their enthusiasm in the past few days and I am very happy there is plenty to work with.
