Australia completed a dominant 3-0 whitewash over West Indies in their Test series, largely due to a historically devastating bowling performance by Mitchell Starc and the Australian pace attack that saw West Indies collapse to a record low of 27 all out.
Mitchell Starc’s Fiery Start
Known as one of the most fearsome bowlers in modern cricket, Mitchell Starc delivered a spell for the ages in the third and final Test at Sabina Park in Kingston. He began the West Indies innings with immediate impact, removing opener John Campbell with the very first ball, caught behind for a golden duck.
Starc, often hailed as the best pink-ball bowler, continued his rampage in that same opening over. He trapped Kevlon Anderson LBW for a four-ball duck before clean bowling Brandon King off his first delivery. This incredible triple-wicket maiden left West Indies reeling at 0 for 3, and Starc was already on a hat-trick.
Milestones and Mayhem Continue
After bowling a second consecutive maiden over, Starc was back to business. He dismissed Mikyle Louis LBW, marking his monumental 400th Test wicket. His figures at this point were an astonishing 2.1 overs, two maidens, zero runs, and four wickets.
Just two balls later, Starc completed his five-wicket haul, the fastest ever in Test cricket, achieving the feat in a mere 15 deliveries by picking up Shai Hope’s wicket. By then, the left-arm quick had taken five wickets for just two runs from his 2.3 overs, registering his 15th five-wicket haul in Test matches.
The Collapse Deepens
With West Indies five wickets down for only seven runs, the Australian pace battery continued its relentless attack. Josh Hazlewood joined the party, making matters worse for the home side by removing Roston Chase, who departed for a duck after facing 11 deliveries. Four of West Indies’ six dismissed batsmen had failed to score a single run.
Scott Boland then stepped up to add to the chaos. In his second over, Boland claimed a remarkable hat-trick, further dismantling the West Indies lineup and reducing them to 26 for nine wickets. Boland’s hat-trick made him the 12th Australian and the 49th player overall to achieve this rare feat in Test cricket.
A Historic Low and Series Whitewash
A brief moment of reprieve saw West Indies edge past New Zealand’s lowest Test total of 26 due to a misfield, but the end was swift. Mitchell Starc returned to clean up Jayden Seales on the very next ball, bringing West Indies’ innings to a humiliating close at just 27 runs in 14.3 overs.
Australia won the pink-ball Test by a massive 176 runs, securing a comprehensive 3-0 series whitewash against the West Indies. This extraordinary match will be remembered for Starc’s once-in-a-generation spell and West Indies’ lowest-ever Test total.
- Mitchell Starc took six wickets for just nine runs, including a triple-wicket maiden.
- Starc achieved his 400th Test wicket and the fastest five-wicket haul (15 balls).
- West Indies were all out for 27, their lowest-ever Test total and the second-lowest overall.
- Scott Boland claimed a hat-trick as part of the West Indies’ historic collapse.
- Australia completed a dominant 3-0 series whitewash.
This match will undoubtedly be etched into cricket history as a display of unparalleled bowling dominance by the Australian team.
