15-07-2025
Australia's record cricket win in Jamaica
Andy Park: Now to Jamaica, where wickets tumbled and so did the records as the Australian men's Test cricket team completed one of its most historic wins over the West Indies. Questions had been raised over the Australians' ability prior to the series starting. They've now been answered emphatically as they surge to a 3-0 win. But this memorable result could be the last of its kind as the future of the Caribbean Test match tour is being pondered by other powerhouse cricketing nations. Myles Houlbrook-Walk prepared this report.
Myles Houlbrook-Walk: There's a distinctive rhythm to the calypso music of the Caribbean. The Australian cricket team as well seemed to be hitting every right note in Jamaica when they overwhelmed the West Indies.
Cricket Commentary: Stark bowling to Jayden Seales. Left arm bowled in! And that seals the deal!
Myles Houlbrook-Walk: The Australian side whitewashed the West Indies 3-0, dismissing them in the final innings for 27 runs, the second lowest score ever in the 147-year history of international Test cricket. Tom Decent is a sports journalist for the Sydney Morning Herald and watched on in the stands.
Tom Decent: Nothing short of remarkable. I mean, no one could have foreseen the magnitude of that win. Mitchell Stark, obviously, with three wickets in the opening over. And just when we thought it was going to be Mitchell Stark's day, Scott Boland comes in and jags his first hat-trick.
Myles Houlbrook-Walk: That hat-trick from Scott Boland, where he took three wickets in three balls, was the first by an Australian in a Test match in 15 years.
Speaker 4: Warwick can't await! He knocks him over! Boland's got a hat-trick!
Myles Houlbrook-Walk: Mitchell Stark, meantime, took five wickets in just 15 balls. He spoke to ESPN after the game.
Mitchell Starc: It's been a fantastic series. I think we've seen some difficult batting conditions throughout, but a fantastic series for us. It's been a good few days. I'm very enjoyable. So yeah, I'll go home with a smile on my face.
Myles Houlbrook-Walk: Tom Decent says while the achievements of the Aussies are to be admired, it comes at a time where Test cricket is stagnating in the West Indies.
Tom Decent: With the absolute greatest respect to the West Indies, they're a pretty ordinary cricket team at the moment. This is not the West Indie side from 1995 or the early 80s who came and conquered and beat Australia.
Myles Houlbrook-Walk: And while Jamaica played host to an historic moment, there's questions over whether this series could have been Australia's final Test tour of the West Indies. Carl Hooper is a former West Indian cricketer and now commentates for the ABC.
Carl Hooper: When are we going to see Australia again on our shores or a West Indies team on these shores, the way the financial model works? I don't know. I mean, you want now to host India and England. So where does West Indies cricket go from here? I don't know.
Myles Houlbrook-Walk: Carl Hooper isn't the only person pondering that question. Tom Decent from the Sydney Morning Herald says there's limited financial returns for Australia and other large nations in hosting or visiting the West Indies.
Tom Decent: The International Cricket Council is looking at whether or not they try and pit the best teams against each other. More often, the Indies or Englands and the lower teams will have to fend for themselves.
Myles Houlbrook-Walk: But for now, Australia and hat-trick hero Scott Boland are soaking up the victory.
Tom Decent: Amazing feeling. I've never been involved in a game where we've bowled a team out for 27.
Andy Park: Test quick, Scott Boland ending that report by Myles Houlbrook-Walk.
