BRISBANE — Australia's openers continued their recent struggles after bowling out the West Indies for 253 on the second day of the second Test at the Gabba, holding a narrow 45-run lead at stumps.
Australia's Bowling Dominance
After restricting the West Indies to 266 in the first innings of the Adelaide Test, Australia's bowlers again proved effective in Brisbane. Josh Hazlewood (3-42) and Pat Cummins (2-48) led the attack, with Mitchell Starc (1-45) and Nathan Lyon (2-81) providing crucial support. "Our bowlers did the job again," said Cummins at the press conference. "We knew we had to be patient on this pitch."
The West Indies innings featured several starts but no major contributions:
- Kraigg Brathwaite (48) looked solid before edging Hazlewood
- Kirk McKenzie (41) played aggressively but fell to Lyon
- Alick Athanaze (35) showed promise before a Cummins bouncer dismissed him
Openers' Struggles Continue
Australia's top-order woes persisted as Steve Smith (6) and Usman Khawaja (23) fell cheaply, leaving the hosts at 24-2. Alzarri Joseph (2-32) and Kemar Roach (0-18) exploited the swinging conditions effectively. "We're not panicking," insisted Smith. "It's about adapting to these conditions."
Middle Order Rescues Innings
Marnus Labuschagne (44*) and Cameron Green (26*) steadied the ship with an unbroken 50-run partnership. Their cautious approach against the second new ball ensured Australia reached 113-4 at close, leading by 45 runs.
Match Situation and Outlook
With three days remaining, the match hangs in balance:
- Australia will aim for a 150+ lead to pressure West Indies
- West Indies need early wickets to stay competitive
- The Gabba pitch is showing variable bounce, favoring bowlers
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting noted: "This is classic Test cricket - small margins deciding the game. Australia have the advantage but one good session could swing it."
Series Context
Australia lead the two-match series 1-0 after their 10-wicket victory in Adelaide. A win here would complete another dominant summer following their 3-0 defeat of Pakistan.
West Indies, despite being underdogs, have shown improvement. Coach Andre Coley praised his team: "We're competing in tough conditions against the world champions. That's progress from where we were 12 months ago."
Day Three Preview
Key factors for Saturday's play:
- Labuschagne's ability to convert his start into a big score
- West Indies' effectiveness with the second new ball
- Potential rain interruptions (30% chance forecast)
With Australia's lead at 45 and six wickets in hand, the morning session could prove decisive. As veteran cricket writer Peter Lalor observed: "Test matches at the Gabba often follow a familiar script - Australia grinding opponents down. But this West Indies team seems determined to rewrite that narrative."