BSS
  03 Jul 2025, 20:24

Australia win toss and elect to bat in second Test with West Indies

Collected photo

ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada, July 3, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bat first against the West Indies on the opening day of the second Test at the National Cricket Stadium in Grenada on Thursday.

Following a 159-run defeat in three days in the first Test in Barbados, the home side have reinforced their pace attack.

They selected Anderson Phillip at the expense of left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican as they seek the victory to keep alive their quest to claim the Frank Worrell Trophy for the first time since relinquishing it in 1995 to Mark Taylor's Australians in the Caribbean.

As expected, senior batsman Steve Smith returns to the visitors' line-up in place of Josh Inglis, having recovered sufficiently from a finger injury suffered while fielding in the World Test Championship Final at Lord's last month.

Former West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite is playing his 100th Test match, the tenth West Indian to reach that landmark.

This is also the 99th Test for Australian left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who is nine away from 400 Test wickets.

Teams:

West Indies - Roston Chase (capt), Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Brandon King, Shai Hope (wkt), Justin Greaves, Alzarri Joseph, Anderson Phillip, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales.

Australia - Pat Cummins (capt), Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wkt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG), Adrian Holdstock (RSA)

Match Referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)