4:23pm Lowest Test total for West Indies, the second lowest overall, and this is an annihilation. It looked like only one team came to participate. Or, well, Starc was THAT good. Forty-five minutes into the day, it looked normal. West Indies picked up the remaining four Australian wickets for not much. Alzarri registered his best figures in Test cricket, picking up his second five-wicket haul. A target of 204 was not too huge, even if West Indies' batting was under the scanner.
But just 15 minutes later, the scene changed drastically. Starc picked up three wickets in the opening over, including one with his first ball, and West Indies were really shocked by what hit them. Daren Sammy was shaking his head, watching helplessly from the dressing room. Starc completed the quickest five-for in Tests and then finished with his best figures of 6 for 9. A deflating loss for West Indies to round up what has been a difficult home series for them.
Scott Boland, the hat-trick hero: "I was nervous on that last ball. Amazing feeling. Didn't expect ten wickets to fall in the first session. Starcy to start like that, three overs in the opening over, unbelievable. I just tried to keep the ball in the right areas. Happy to start off well. Unreal, for Starc to get his 400th wicket in his 100th Test is special. He trains hard and looks after his body to achieve those things."
Mitchell Starc, Player of the Match and Series: "Worked out pretty well for the week. Fantastic series, difficult batting conditions. Very enjoyable few days. We saw last night the conditions with the hard newish ball is difficult. It was pretty blustery and we were on the money. [Boland] He is amazing. Would have played so many Tests in another team. He is never far from the perfect spell. Prepares all the time to play and shows what a wonderful Test bowler he is. [On WI fast bowlers] They have really shown their class on a difficult wicket - with pace, skill and consistency. Shamar and Jayden were consistent throughout the series. Alzarri we saw last night as well as throughout his career."
Roston Chase, West Indies captain: "Heartbreaking to be in a position like this. It has been recurring for the whole series, makes it all the more disappointing. It is quite easy to assess - the bowlers kept us in all along, batters never really clicked. The next series is quite a while. We have time on our side. Need to have a look at the batting display and see how we can improve and put 300 totals. India is going to be different conditions, spinner friendly. So having batting camps focusing around spin would be ideal. [WI bowlers] I would like to congratulate them. They have delivered whenever I called them. We didn't do well as a team but as a bowling unit they did well. Don't want them to rest on their laurels but work on their skills."
Pat Cummins, Australia captain: "This match was madness. Today seemed to be playing in fast forward. It could have gone either way but our group find a way through those. [Starc] You talk about resilience, skill and fitness levels. Today he showed what a real Mitchell Starc can do. Very lucky to have him. [Boland] He's had a couple of moments where he gets on a roll. Three classic Boland wicket where he attacks the stumps. We know he's quality when he comes in. The series is tough as you get. This game, a couple of 40s were worth 80-90. A couple of guys, you could look and see if they could have found ways to score more runs."
Cummins takes the trophy and walks to his team-mates, who pose behind the board that says CHAMPIONS. The series showed their true nature - finding ways to come back and win when pushed back to the wall. They behind the WTC 2025-27 cycle with a 3-0 sweep. That concludes this day-night Test, inside three days no less. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. On behalf of our scorers Ranjith, Vairavan and my co-commentator Alex, this is Sudarshanan bidding y'all goodbye! Ciao, aficionados!
John: "7 ducks has to be a test record as well surely. " Yes it is.
Prabhat: "This has got to go down as one of the great "100th match"-es ever? Who cares about centuries."
Richard: "Who keeps the ball?Boland - hatrickStarc - 6 wickets plus 400" Interesting conundrum
Dave: "Starc was a little unlucky. But for those two dropped catches he could have had an eight or nine for. At least six of Australia's dropped catches this series have been off his bowling."
JNT Seales b Starc 0 (5m 4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
Matt: "Is that the perfect cricket hatrick? One caught, one LBW and one bowled. "
Around the wicket
END OF OVER:14 | (wicket maiden) | WI: 26/9
- Jayden Seales0 (3b)
- Alzarri Joseph3 (26b)
- Scott Boland2-1-2-3
- Mitchell Starc7-4-8-5
Can Jayden Seales avoid the four in four?
JA Warrican b Boland 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
Jomel Warrican is in next. Five slips, short leg, leg gully in for the hat-trick ball
AnotherPK: "Meanwhile McSweeney is making runs for Australia A again. Time to give him another token chance in the Australian summer?" Why not?
S Joseph lbw b Boland 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
Shamar Joseph joins Alzarri in the middle
JP Greaves c Webster b Boland 11 (68m 24b 2x4 0x6) SR: 45.83
END OF OVER:13 | 1 Run | WI: 26/6
- Alzarri Joseph3 (26b)
- Justin Greaves11 (23b)
- Mitchell Starc7-4-8-5
- Scott Boland1-0-2-0