Five quick hits: Shamar Joseph shines, Travis Head's controversial reprieve on day one of the first Test against the West Indies

Australia Broadcast Center

11 hours ago

Travis Head gets a life, Usman Khawaja leads a charmed existence and Shamar Joseph rips through Australia once again, with the Aussies dismissed for 180 before taking 4-57 in the West Indies's first innings.
Here are five quick hits from day one of Australia's first Test in the West Indies in a decade.
The home fans were in no doubt.
Neither was Shamar Joseph.
Wicketkeeper Shai Hope was not certain though, looking to square leg umpire Nitin Menon with a question on his face as to whether the ball, bottom-edged by Travis Head, had carried into his gloves behind the stumps.
It turns out, third umpire Adrian Holdstock wasn't entirely sure either.
The South African said there was "no clear evidence," to give Head out, despite footage appearing to show a slither of material between the ball and turf.
The "NOT OUT" sign on the big screen was greeted with relieved cheers from the Aussies and bemusement from the home supporters.
Joseph could only laugh, incredulous along with the majority of the crowd who felt their man had been robbed of a fifth wicket of the innings.
Head was on 53 at the time.
He was the architect of that famous Gabba victory in 2024, and once again, Joseph was all over Australia on day one at Kensington Oval.
His first job was to ensure Sam Konstas's return to the Test match crease was a short one.
There were no sparkles or scoops in the 19-year-old's nervous three from 14 deliveries, which was over when he was caught plumb in front by an excellent Joseph delivery in the fourth over.
After dismissing Konstas, the skiddy right arm pacer could have had both Cameron Green and Usman Khawaja in consecutive overs had it not been for some poor catching from his teammates.
However, Green never looked comfortable against Joseph, and he was eventually dismissed for an indecisive three from 21 balls.
Josh Inglis — the third new face in Australia's new look top four — didn't fair any better.
He was out for five after horribly mistiming one off Jayden Seales.
But Joseph's finest moment came midway through the second session.
Beau Webster played back to a good length ball that gathered pace and moved away from him off the pitch. The big Tasmanian's bat got nowhere near it and the ball kissed the top of off.
The perfect ball to cap a near-perfect day of bowling.
As bad as things were for Australia in the opening hour, it could have been worse.
Green may have only made three runs, but he was dropped on zero by debutant Brandon King at gully.
Khawaja's recovery effort with Head was vital, but the veteran, too, should have been back in the sheds in that first session, dropped on six by Roston Chase at first slip.
Both chances came off the bowling of Joseph.
It would be charitable to say that both catches were easy. It's far more accurate to say they were absolute sitters.
Khawaja was later dropped on 45 too, this time off the bowling of Jayden Seales but by King again at gully, the Jamaican's dream debut turning desperately sour.
Sometimes, it's just your day.
After being put down, Khawaja continued to ride his luck for the entirety of his innings steadying knock.
He threaded an edge through the slips, built a catalogue of plays and misses and almost deflected one off his thigh pad onto the stumps.
But the most inexplicable moment of the lot came in the third over after lunch.
Trying to work away a straight Justin Greaves delivery, Khawaja lost sight of the ball as it bobbled up off his pad and dropped at his feet.
He then proceeded to backheel the ball towards the stumps, before turning around and wildly swiping at it with his bat.
He missed the ball by some distance, and thankfully for Khawaja, just about missed his stumps as well.
The ball, almost forgotten in the melee, trickled harmlessly wide of the sticks.
However, the 38-year-old wasn't able to make the most of his charmed existence, eventually being removed for 47 by the irrepressible Joseph.
As he so often does, it was Mitchell Starc who delivered late on for Australia.
Bowled out for 180, the tourists desperately needed something in the final hour and a half of play.
The experienced Kraigg Braithwaite edged to a tumbling Webster at second slip to get the ball rolling, before he had John Campbell edging behind to Alex Carey.
That left the West Indies 2-16 and under pressure.