Australia v West Indies, 2nd Test, Day 1 - Gutsy Australian selectors, brilliant Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja and a dull West Indies

Jason Holder won the toss and sent Australia to bat first as the track had a bit of life on it and the conditions were a bit favorable for the pace bowlers, but the Caribbean pacers were welcomed in a brutal fashion by David Warner. Kemar Roach was punished by Warner for three consecutive boundaries in his first over’s first three balls and conveyed the message that the Australians are in no mood to show any respect towards the opposition bowlers. The Boxing Day turned out to be another hectic and dull day for the Caribbeans.

Warner was dismissed quickly, but Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja ensured that the misery of West Indies continue to prolong. As usual, the Caribbean bowling lacked heart and an appropriate plan – if I am not wrong, the length was more like a Twenty20 match and this indicates how badly this format has affected West Indies cricket. We all realize this except the West Indian players and the Board.

I must say that the selectors of Cricket Australia do possess a sound vision. Otherwise, it is never an easy task to invest faith in a batsman who has just returned from an injury-break and had only warmed himself up by playing in a circus show named BBL. The options for CA were to choose between a struggling Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja and an inform Shaun Marsh. Ideally, one would go for either Burns or Khawaja and not Marsh. But CA opted for Burns and Khawaja and left out Marsh which proved to be a masterstroke.

Both Burns and Khawaja needed runs to boost their confidence and who can be a better opposition than this depleted West Indies side. There is no harm in experimenting against one of the weakest oppositions in Test cricket and I hate to say this, West Indies are the weakest in Test cricket at the moment.    

Thank You

Faisal Caesar