Mitchell Starc is on the brink of his 100th Test, and there’s something fitting about it happening under lights with a pink ball in hand—the very format he’s mastered better than anyone else. (Also Read: Australia Weighs Dropping Nathan Lyon for Day-Night Test in Jamaica)
He is five away from reaching 400 Test scalps. Josh Hazlewood is also on the cusp of 300, while Nathan Lyon needs two to surpass Glenn McGrath on Australia’s all-time wicket-takers list.
That all hinges on the team selection. Captain Pat Cummins has not ruled out an all-pace attack. Lyon played just one over in the last pink-ball Test. With a green pitch and a hard, swinging Dukes ball, Australia’s quicks could again dominate.
West Indies coach faces different concerns
Daren Sammy has watched his bowlers compete but has urged his batters to be more adaptable. The Caribbean side has been outplayed, but a win here could shift the tone around this rebuilding squad.
The challenge will be higher in Jamaica unless the conditions ease up. Sammy remains optimistic, but the pink Dukes and new lighting may create another test of temperament.
Top-order scrutiny intensifies for Australia
Despite having already retained the Frank Worrell Trophy, Australia’s top three remain under the microscope. Cameron Green made a half-century in Grenada, but Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja have both struggled.
Khawaja’s numbers against pace are alarming. He’s averaging under 19 in his last ten Tests against fast bowling. In this series, he has been trapped lbw in nearly identical fashion several times, playing deep in the crease and missing inswingers. The statistics are catching up with him. Four fifties in his last 33 innings and only one century—his 232 in Sri Lanka—is doing most of the work keeping his average intact.
He’s also among the worst in history when it comes to failed DRS reviews, equaling fourth all-time for unsuccessful challenges. One solid innings might ease the conversation. A poor outing, and the speculation will last until the Ashes.
Campbell’s inconsistency could cost him
John Campbell has shown glimpses of form but hasn’t capitalized. Scores of 23 and 40 ended with soft dismissals. His return to Test cricket after three years deserves more time, but West Indies would prefer some stability at the top.
Captain Roston Chase didn’t confirm if Kraigg Brathwaite will play and said a decision on including left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican was still pending.
Team lineups not finalized
Cummins said Australia would take another day before naming the XI, noting that conditions during the night sessions would influence the decision. Given recent match workloads, a change in the bowling attack would be tactical rather than necessary.
Pitch and conditions: Green surface, tricky pink Dukes
Starc said it’s the best pitch of the series, with an even grass cover. The pink Dukes balls have held their shape better than the red ones and were swinging well in training. Lighting could be a variable. While the new lights meet standards, they’re not quite as bright as what some players are used to.
Monday could bring some rain, but the forecast is largely clear. Both teams will want to settle quickly under unfamiliar conditions.
Stat watch:
- Starc has 74 wickets in pink-ball Tests at an average of 18.14.
- All four of Australia’s bowlers have taken 37 or more wickets in pink-ball matches.
- The series has yet to produce a century, and the combined batting average sits at 20.60.
This Test may be far from home, but it could shape Australia’s future selection discussions and West Indies’ rebuilding narrative. For now, all eyes turn to the lights at Sabina Park.
