Australian decks are renowned for their bounce and carry, but that certainly hasn’t been the case at Adelaide Oval this week.
On Thursday morning, the West Indies seamers were repeatedly left frustrated by the lack of bounce on offer as countless deliveries dropped short of the wicketkeeper. Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh was particularly fortuitous, with a handful of outside edges landing in front of the slips cordon.
“In Australia, they say you can leave on bounce,” former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith said on Fox Cricket commentary.
“You can’t here.”
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West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite was forced to innovate, putting debutant Justin Greaves under the helmet in the 44th over and placing him a few metres in front of a conventional third slip.
“I like that,” Australian great Mark Waugh said.
“It’s proactive.”
The next ball, delivered by veteran bowler Kemar Roach, seamed away from Marsh and caught the edge, but the Kookaburra dropped short of Greaves under the helmet. The 29-year-old, desperate for a breakthrough, waddled slightly closer — and he didn’t have to wait long for his next opportunity.
Roach found Marsh’s outside edge yet again the very next delivery, but Greaves was ready to pounce on this occasion, holding onto a low chance. The 32-year-old departed for 5, leaving the hosts in a spot of bother at 5-129, still trailing the West Indies by 59 runs.
“That is great cricket from the West Indies,” Waugh continued.
“That is a good bit of cricket.”
Former Test spinner Kerry O’Keeffe replied: “Brathwaite’s worked the slips cordon well.”
Brathwaite’s captaincy masterstroke, along with the West Indies’ disciplined bowling, has given the tourists a chance at clinching its first Test victory on Australian soil since 1997.
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