Questions linger after shock loss to Windies

WHILE the cricket world celebrates the West Indies’ miraculous win over Australia, The Daily Telegraph’s Ben Horne has called for a swift response from the home side into how they lost the Second Test.

A seven-wicket haul from second-gamer Shamar Joseph led the Windies to their first win against Australia on our shores since 1997, Pat Cummins’ first Test loss at home as captain and Australia’s first loss with a pink ball.

Horne said Australia can celebrate the Windies’ achievement but must rectify the glaring issues in their batting ahead of their upcoming tour against New Zealand.

“Obviously it’s an amazing win for the West Indies and a great moment for Test cricket, Australia needs to reflect on what went wrong,” Horne told SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“That isn’t a Test match that Australia should be losing on home soil and at the Gabba of all places.

“There’s no doubt that batting has been well below standards for Australia this summer.

“It definitely cost them that match.

“The one positive was Steve Smith finding form which is a great confidence booster.

“The rest of the top six simply fell short.

“Without Head’s century [in Adelaide], that Test match could’ve been alive as well.

“Australia have got to get back to the drawing board and rediscover that intensity that gave them such success last year.”

Several batters failed during the Frank-Worrell Trophy including Marnus Labuschagne on 19 runs at 6.33 and Mitch Marsh with 36 runs at 12.

However, Horne said he believes the Australian selectors will face the most scrutiny over Cameron Green who failed to make the number four position his own.

“Cameron Green was a selection they put a lot of thinking into,” Horne said.

“The main priority was getting him into this team.

“He battled quite hard in that last innings to get to 40 so hopefully that’s a platform to build on.

“The big watch is Cameron Green at four in New Zealand. He will have to rise to the challenge there.”

Australia will play the West Indies in an ODI and T20 series in February before travelling across the ditch to play New Zealand in a two-match Test series beginning on 29 February.

– CHARLES GOODSIR/ SEN