West Indies bowled out Australia for just 180 and quickly realised how tricky the Kensington Oval pitch was themselves, slipping to 57-4 at stumps on day one of the Test series opener in Bridgetown on Wednesday (25 June 2025).
Debutant Brandon King, unbeaten on 23, was holding the fort after a tough day in the field where he dropped three catches. New skipper Roston Chase (1*) joined him in the final overs, steadying the innings after Australia’s pace attack struck back late in the evening.
Jayden Seales claimed 5-60 – his third five-for in Tests, all on home soil – while Shamar Joseph was the standout, taking 4-46 and dominating the morning session. In just his ninth Test, Joseph now has 34 wickets – half of them against Australia.
Australia were bundled out in just 56.5 overs, registering their lowest first-innings total in the Caribbean. Only Travis Head (59), Usman Khawaja (47), and captain Pat Cummins (28) reached double figures.
The collapse echoed their recent struggles in the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s, where they were dismissed for 212 on the opening day – a day that also saw 14 wickets fall.
Cummins opted to bat first after winning the toss, as is tradition in Bridgetown, on what appeared to be a dry, bat-first surface. However, it proved deceptive, offering seam, swing, and the occasional low bounce – with 10 of the day’s 14 wickets falling to edges.
Australia were quickly reduced to 22-3 within the first hour. Sam Konstas, replacing Marnus Labuschagne, fell for 3 to Shamar Joseph, lbw on the back leg in the fourth over. Cameron Green was dropped at gully by King in the same over, but Joseph removed him soon after for 3 with a nick to second slip.
Josh Inglis, covering for the injured Steve Smith, top-edged a pull off Seales to wicketkeeper Shai Hope – playing his first Test in four years – who went on to complete four catches on the day.
Khawaja, battling hard, was joined by the aggressive Head in a counterattacking 89-run stand – the longest of the day. Khawaja was dropped on 45 by King but fell for 47 off 128 balls after edging Joseph. Head reached a brisk fifty off 57 balls and was eventually dismissed for 59 off 78 (9 fours) just after tea, edging Justin Greaves.
Seales polished off the tail with three wickets, including Alex Carey (8) just before tea.
West Indies’ reply got off to a rocky start. Kraigg Brathwaite (4) and John Campbell (7) both edged to the slips off Starc, while Cummins removed Keacy Carty (20) and Hazlewood trapped nightwatchman Jomel Worrican for a duck.
At the close, King and Chase had negotiated the final 3.1 overs, setting the stage for another tense day in Barbados.
Day 1 score:
Australia 180 (Travis Head 59, Jayden Seales 5-60, Shamar Joseph 4-46)
West Indies 57-4 (Brandon King 23, Mitchell Starc 2-11)
