Starc Strikes in 100th Test as Australia Posts 225, West Indies End Day One at 16-1

KINGSTON, JAMAICA – On the opening day of the day/night third Test at Sabina Park, Mitchell Starc celebrated his 100th Test appearance in style by claiming an early wicket, leaving the West Indies at 16-1 in response to Australia’s first-innings score of 225.

Starc, who was dismissed for a duck during Australia’s batting collapse late in the day, struck with the pink ball under lights, clean bowling debutant Kevlon Anderson off an inside edge to claim his 396th Test wicket.

With regular openers John Campbell and Mikyle Louis sidelined due to injuries sustained in the field, Anderson and Brandon King were tasked with opening the innings. At stumps, King remained unbeaten alongside skipper Roston Chase, as the hosts looked for a solid start despite already having lost the series following defeats in Barbados and Grenada.

West Indies’ pace spearhead Shamar Joseph was once again the standout performer, bagging 4-33 to extend his impressive series tally to 18 wickets — the most in the contest so far.

Support came from Jayden Seales and Justin Greaves, who took three wickets each on a surface offering both seam and turn. The pitch conditions raised questions over Australia’s decision to omit veteran spinner Nathan Lyon, choosing instead to include pacer Scott Boland.

Australia’s innings saw seven of the top eight batsmen reach double figures, but none capitalized on their starts. Only Beau Webster failed to cross the 15-run mark. The innings peaked during a 61-run partnership between Steve Smith (48) and Cameron Green (46) — the only phase where the bat briefly dominated the ball.

“It was almost like he was batting on a different wicket,” Green said, praising Smith’s fluent knock. “I was really struggling out there but clearly he is a class above.”

After reaching 138-3 by the dinner break, the Australians collapsed to 225 all out, losing seven wickets for just 68 runs in 15 overs — a stark contrast to the slow, grinding pace of the first two sessions.

In the final session, an aggressive shift in approach was evident, with Pat Cummins launching two consecutive sixes off Seales in what resembled a T20-style push to maximize runs before unleashing the bowlers under lights.

“We just wanted to give them a tricky last 45 minutes, and to get them one down is really crucial,” Green noted after play.

The day began with some drama as Sam Konstas was nearly run out and then dropped at slip before being trapped LBW by Greaves for 17. Anderson, who replaced Keacy Carty, was one of three changes for the West Indies in this final Test. The side also saw the return of Jomel Warrican for Anderson Phillip, while Kraigg Brathwaite, in a surprise move following his 100th Test in Grenada, was dropped in favor of Mikyle Louis.

With the series already decided, West Indies will look for a consolation win, while Australia eyes a clean sweep and a strong finish to the campaign.