The questions around Australia’s openers are set to linger into the Ashes after Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja’s difficulties against West Indies continued.
After winning the toss and batting in the third and final Test in Jamaica, Australia were all out for 225 during the last session on the opening night at Sabina Park.
West Indies reached 16 for 1 after Mitchell Starc in his 100th Test bowled Kevlon Anderson off an inside edge for eight, leaving Brandon King and captain Roston Chase to guide the hosts to stumps.
Steve Smith led the way for Australia with a stylish 48 before a loose shot paved the way for a collapse of 68 for 7 as the tourists’ pursued quick runs in the final session.
Cameron Green hit 46 batting at No 3 before being bowled by a wonderful Jayden Seales delivery, on a day when Australia’s selectors dropped the biggest bombshell by dropping Nathan Lyon.
Still, all eyes remain on Australia’s top order, with Khawaja’s 47 in the first Test in Barbados the only score from either opener above 25 in this Frank Worrell Trophy series.
The 38-year-old Khawaja fought through a difficult opening session on Saturday (Sunday AEST), as the pink Dukes ball was moving and regularly beat the bat.
But the left-hander was superbly caught behind by Shai Hope on 23, edging a ball that was angled back in at him from around the wicket by Shamar Joseph (3 for 33).
Konstas had also shown signs of digging in, before being lbw for 17 to Justin Greaves (3 for 56) after moving to an off-stump guard for this Test.
The 19-year-old at one stage faced 18 straight dot balls early, while surviving a run-out scare and edge to third slip on consecutive deliveries while on one.
Konstas threatened to find some rhythm when he hooked Alzarri Joseph’s first ball for four and later punched the quick to the point boundary off the back foot.
But the teenager is now averaging just 10 for the series and Khawaja 20.6, with this Australia’s last Test before this summer’s home Ashes.
Australia have battled with the opening spot since David Warner’s retirement, after Smith’s aborted move up the order last year and Nathan McSweeney’s three Tests last summer.
Marnus Labuschagne also opened in the World Test Championship final loss to South Africa, for scores of 17 and 22 before being dropped.
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After the pair’s exits Green and Smith took Australia to 129 for 3 and 157 for 4, before Smith’s free-flowing innings ended with an edge to a Shamar Joseph ball wide outside off.
Alex Carey also acted as an aggressor in a 20-ball 21, with he and Travis Head (20) unable to make the most of starts.
The other chief talking point of Saturday was the omission of Lyon, with Scott Boland coming in for the day-night Test.
Lyon has played every Test he has been fit for since the second Test of the 2013 Ashes, racking up 100 consecutive matches after that.
The spinner then suffered a calf tear at Lord’s in 2023 and missed the final three Tests of that Ashes, before returning to the side for the start of the next summer.
This has been a series that has generally suited the quicks, with Lyon taking nine wickets at 18.33, but only bowling 32.3 overs during the first two sessions.
Lyon has a good record in day-night Tests, but the fact this match is being played with a Dukes ball rather than a Kookaburra also played into the decision.