Australia routed West Indies for just 27 runs on day three of the third Test, registering a 176-run victory and completing a 3-0 series whitewash in extraordinary fashion.
The collapse marked the second-lowest innings total in the history of Test cricket and the West Indies' worst since their 47 all out against England in 2004. It was only marginally better than the record low of 26 set by New Zealand in 1955.
Fast bowler Mitchell Starc was the architect of the demolition, taking 6 for 9 in a devastating spell that included five wickets in just 15 deliveries. The performance, which came in his 100th Test, saw him surpass 400 career wickets, joining Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, and Nathan Lyon as only the fourth Australian to reach the milestone.
Scott Boland added to the carnage with a hat-trick that effectively extinguished any hopes the West Indies had of salvaging the match.
Collapse after Australia’s modest lead
Australia had resumed their second innings at 99 for 6 under the lights of the pink-ball Test but managed to post just 121, thanks to a fiery 5-27 spell from Alzarri Joseph. Set a target of 204 for victory, West Indies unravelled under intense pressure and hostile bowling.
Starc set the tone immediately, dismissing John Campbell with the first ball of the innings before sending back Kevlon Anderson and Brandon King in the same over, all three fell without scoring.
By the end of Starc’s third over, the hosts were reduced to 7 for 5. Josh Hazlewood then trapped Roston Chase leg-before for nought, before Boland struck with a clinical over that removed Justin Greaves (11), Shamar Joseph, and Jomel Warrican in successive deliveries.
A brief moment of reprieve came via a misfield that allowed a single to push the score to 26. But Starc returned to clean bowl Jayden Seales, ending the innings at 27 and sealing a humiliating defeat for the hosts.
Reaction from both camps
“It’s heartbreaking,” said West Indies skipper Roston Chase. “We felt like we were in the game after bowling them out cheaply, but our batting let us down again - it’s a recurring theme and that makes it harder to take.”
Starc, reflecting on the milestone and match, said: “It’s been a brilliant few days - to reach 400 wickets and wrap up a strong series performance is something I’ll treasure. The whole bowling unit has been spot on.”
The two sides will now shift formats, with a five-match T20 series set to begin on July 21 in Jamaica.
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