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Lloyd to take charge of 50-over side while Cooke leads in Championship and T20 Blast

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jan-2020Glamorgan will be led by Chris Cooke and David Lloyd next season after a captaincy reshuffles. Cooke continues as Championship captain while also taking charge of the T20 side, while Lloyd will step up for the Royal London Cup, when Cooke will be absent at the Hundred.Cooke, 33, oversaw Glamorgan’s best Championship campaign since 2015, as the club kept alive promotion hopes until the final weeks before finishing fourth. He adds the Blast captaincy for 2020, with Colin Ingram relinquishing the position.”It was an honour to lead the club last year and I’m delighted to continue in the role,” Cooke said. “We saw a lot of improvement in our County Championship performances last season and it’s something we want to take into the Vitality Blast.”It’s going to be an exciting season and we can’t wait to get started and hit the ground running in April.”Allrounder Lloyd, 27, has been a regular member of the List A side since 2014 and took charge in one Royal London Cup game last season when Cooke was injured.”I thoroughly enjoyed stepping in as captain and it’s a really proud moment to be asked to lead the side in the Royal London Cup,” Lloyd said. “We have a great bunch of lads at the club and a lot of talent in the squad, so there is no reason why we can’t build on last season’s improvement and reach the knockout stages of the competition.”Cooke will be absent with Birmingham Phoenix during the Hundred, which will also feature Ingram, who was signed as a ‘local icon’ by Welsh Fire.Glamorgan’s director of cricket, Mark Wallace, said: “Chris did a fantastic job in his first season in charge and led the side with a great deal of enthusiasm and skill. He commands a lot of respect in the dressing room and deserves the opportunity to carry on his good work from last year and take the club forward.”It’s also great news for Glamorgan that David is taking over the 50-over captaincy. He showed many leadership qualities last year and did a good job under tough circumstances when he deputised for Chris.”

It is understood that the session on Tuesday was not yet the official fitness test, and a final decision could also be made only on the morning of the match

Sidharth Monga in Sydney01-Jan-2019On a day when Australia went through an optional training session and India gave it a complete miss, one man resumed his race against time to make it to the Sydney Test. India would have given training a miss on the first day of the year, irrespective of the happy scoreline of 2-1, but they might have a happier headache if R Ashwin, who turned up at the SCG indoor nets on the team’s day off, is fit and ready for selection. Ashwin was accompanied by physio Patrick Farhart and trainer Shankar Basu to the SCG even as Australia wound up their optional training session.Ashwin injured himself on the fourth evening of the Adelaide Test, and he further aggravated the injury as Australia kept India on the field for almost the whole fifth day, before the visitors sealed their first win of the series. Ashwin went on to miss both the Perth and Melbourne Tests with the “left-sided abdominal strain”.It is understood that the session on Tuesday, where the trio spent more than an hour in the nets, was not yet the official fitness test. A final decision might not be made even on Wednesday when the team reconvenes to train for the series decider that begins on Thursday. The latest update on Ashwin’s fitness was given by captain Virat Kohli on Sunday, moments after the Melbourne Test, which India won, making sure they can’t lose the series now.”I think Ashwin’s very close to being match-fit,” Kohli had said. “He’s been bowling a lot of overs, and I’m sure these next four days will make him even stronger. So regardless of it being the last Test match, he will be willing to push himself and start for the team but again it depends on what kind of pitch we get in Sydney.”The last few words might be crucial to Ashwin’s chances even if he is fully fit. If Ashwin’s selection depends on the pitch, India might possibly have made their minds up to go with Ravindra Jadeja should they deem only one spinner is required.Sydney has been through a warm week, Tim Paine said he expected a dry pitch, and given that Australia need a result and they have added another spinner-batsman [Marnus Labuschagne] to their squad, don’t be surprised if India feel the need to play two spinners themselves. If India do play the extra spinner, they might consider including Hardik Pandya as the seam-bowling insurance. Pandya could take the place of Rohit Sharma, who has gone back to India for the birth of his daughter. If they want to play to preserve the lead, India might choose differently. All that depends on how they read the pitch on Wednesday and Thursday morning.

The former Pakistan captain said the hectic schedule of the tournament had led to the quality of pitches being substandard

Umar Farooq15-Oct-2017The 2017-18 Quaid-e-Azam trophy had attracted attention for its hectic schedule, with each team having to play seven four-day games in just 41 days. On Sunday, it attracted its most prominent critic, with former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq bemoaning the quality of the pitch, claiming the heavy schedule meant it was difficult to prepare good pitches.On the first day of the fourth round of QeA fixtures, 93 wickets fell across eight games, with the LCCA ground in Lahore alone seeing 17 wickets tumble. In the previous round, a game between WAPDA and Islamabad saw 24 wickets fall on the opening day.Some attributed the bowler-friendly nature of the games to the Duke ball – introduced to the Pakistan domestic circuit for the first time – but Misbah – who continues to play domestic cricket despite retiring from international cricket in May – laid the blame on the pitches being overused. “I have been playing with these players [on the domestic circuit] all my career, and I feel good. But there is some disappointment as well after watching the state of pitches in domestic cricket,” Misbah said. “This is supposed to be the most prestigious form of cricket after international cricket, but the standard of the tournament is very low.”I always have been insisting that these concerns need to be heeded and these problems addressed. You cannot produce better cricketers until you don’t improve the standard of the pitches. We take a lot of time to get here, players invest a lot of time to play but this isn’t the standard that should be in place. When 20-24 wickets are falling in a day, then it is a concern. Wickets are uneven, the ball keeps low and it is obvious that the pitches are underprepared It’s difficult for players.”Fifteen venues have been chosen to host the 69 matches. Just 86 days have been set aside for the entire tournament, with the final to be played from December 16. The group stage has been especially compressed, with each team afforded only 13 rest days if their games last all four days. That is a reduction on an already packed schedule: teams were given 18 and 15 days off in the group stages in the last two seasons. A National T20 Cup has been squeezed within this tournament, with a three-week window allocated after the group stage of the QeA, which ends on November 5, and the next stage – the Super Eight – starting from November 25.There have been several rounds of talks over the last decade regarding the improvement of Pakistan’s domestic cricket, with the circuit revamped every other year. But the players have often complained about the quality of pitches, the standard of the tournament and the uncertain schedule.The PCB has also struggled to find a permanent resolution to the quality of the cricket ball being used in domestic cricket. This year, they got the manufacturers that produce the Duke balls to prepare a custom-made ball to withstand the extreme heat in Pakistan. This is the third time the PCB has changed the maker of the ball over the last five years, with the Grace and the Kookaburra also used.With all the back-to-back games at venues, the pitches will inevitably take inevitable strain, and Misbah said domestic cricket needed to be taken seriously, instead of simply playing it as a compulsion. “It will happen when you play back-to-back games with only a two-day gap, and it will be difficult to maintain a pitch. It takes time to prepare a good pitch for a game and nobody can make it in two days. Organising the first-class tournament only for the sake of obligation shouldn’t be the purpose; it should be played at a high standard. It should prepare us for Test match pitches.”

After sealing the T20 series, Pakistan will strive for consistency and a rare series whitewash against the misfiring world champions West Indies

The Preview by Nikhil Kalro26-Sep-2016

Match facts

September 27, 2016
Start time 2000 local (1600 GMT)

Big Picture

Bereft of confidence and 0-4 down, not much was happening for Pakistan’s limited-overs squad in their ODI series against England last month. But, as is the case in sport, one moment of clear thinking can help a team turn around. Pakistan achieved that through a partnership between their best limited-overs batsmen, Shoaib Malik and Sarfraz Ahmed, in a demanding chase of 303 in Cardiff. Three convincing T20 wins followed, and now, Pakistan have an atypical sense of belief in their own game, and camaraderie under newly-appointed captain Sarfraz has hit a new level. Although this series is done, Pakistan are still striving to find the glue that can hold it all together: consistency.Pakistan’s series win against West Indies has been built around the same modus operandi they’ve used for decades – bat to par and bowl well above that. Reducing the world champions to 48 for 8 and 89 for 7 in the first two T20s showed their discipline with the ball. A youthful side has also shown the ability to save runs on the field. But, how will Pakistan’s new-look outfit hold their own under the duress that this format often brings?As teams master the T20 format, they also sometimes deem a “bad day” acceptable. West Indies’ batsmen suffered two in succession, which has cost the team the series; their six-hitters have hit the wall when unable to find the boundary. “West Indies are known to be a boundary-hitting side. But it’s up to us to find a way around that,” batting coach Toby Radford said after the second T20. If they don’t, a whitewash may be inevitable.

Form guide

Pakistan WWWLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
West Indies LLWWW

In the spotlight

Shoaib Malik has been one of Pakistan’s most consistent T20 performers. In his last 16 T20I innings, Malik has failed to register a double-digit score just once. Malik’s experience and fielding prowess have also helped Pakistan in their dramatic limited-overs revival.West Indies’ middle order, which includes Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Carlos Brathwaite, is arguably the best in the world. Bravo resurrected West Indies’ innings in the first T20 with a 54-ball 55. But for them to be at their destructive best, West Indies’ top order has to set a base from where the middle order can attack effectively.

Team news

Pakistan have no reason to change their winning combination with a whitewash in sight, although coach Mickey Arthur said on the eve of the game that there might be changes on the fast-bowling front. “We would like to bring in [Mohammad] Amir, and start him bowling before the ODIs,” he said. “I want to know how Rumman Raees goes too, but we will take a final decision tomorrow.”*Pakistan (probable): 1 Sharjeel Khan, 2 Khalid Latif, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Umar Akmal, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), 7 Imad Wasim, 8 Mohammad Nawaz, 9 Wahab Riaz, 10 Sohail Tanvir, 11 Hasan Ali/Mohammad AmirWith the series gone, captain Carlos Brathwaite said they are likely to hand a debut to one or two players. Rovman Powell may make it into the XI for Nicholas Pooran, who has scores of 5 and 4 in his first two T20Is. West Indies may also rejig their misfiring top order.West Indies (probable): 1 Johnson Charles, 2 Evin Lewis, 3 Andre Fletcher (wk), 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Dwayne Bravo, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Carlos Brathwaite (capt), 8 Rovman Powell/Nicholas Pooran, 9 Sunil Narine, 10 Samuel Badree, 11 Jerome Taylor

Pitch and conditions

Abu Dhabi, with its larger dimensions, will provide a different challenge to the batsmen. Pakistan’s batsmen scampered through for plenty of twos in the smaller Dubai outfield, which could continue. West Indies’ six-hitting ability and adaptability will be tested. The nature of the pitch is unlikely to be too dissimilar from the first two T20Is, and temperatures are expected to be in the late 30s again.

Stats and trivia

• Before this series, Pakistan had never won more than one match in a three-match T20I series
• Pakistan’s left-arm bowlers have taken 14 wickets this series, the joint most for any team in a bilateral T20I series
• Pakistan have won only one of the four T20Is they have played in Abu Dhabi

Quotes

“The dot-ball percentage was always far too high [previously in limited-overs cricket], so we had to rotate the strike more and we particulary worked hard to score off good balls. It was pleasing to see us score so many [87] off the last ten the other night.”
“I haven’t lost confidence in anyone as a team”.
*18.00GMT, September 26: The preview was updated after Mickey Arthur’s media interaction

Allrounder Stuart Binny has been added to India’s squad for the second Test against Sri Lanka, which begins on August 20 in Colombo

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Aug-20151:12

Ugra: Binny selection attempt to fill allrounder void

Allrounder Stuart Binny has been added to India’s Test squad for the Sri Lanka series. He will join the team ahead of the second game, which begins on August 20 in Colombo at the P Sara Oval.The BCCI confirmed that there was no fresh injury concern for any other members of the squad, that Binny was just an “addition” to the 15-man unit. Binny, seen as someone who can bat at No. 6 and be a fifth bowling option, will provide the team management with an additional all-round choice. He has played three Tests, all on India’s tour to England in mid 2014. While he did not pick up a wicket in any of those games, he scored a handy 78 in his debut Test, in Nottingham, to help India draw.India do have a couple of already existing injury worries going into the second Test, around their openers. M Vijay, who had missed the first Test with a hamstring niggle, was on the mend the board said, though a decision on whether he will return to the XI would be taken closer to the game: “Improving every day and the team physio is working with him. The final call will be taken one day before the Test.” There was no further update on Shikhar Dhawan, who had batted through the Galle Test with an injury to his right hand.India lost the first Test of the Sri Lanka series, in Galle, after being ahead for a large part of the match. There are two more matches to go, both in Colombo, one at the P Sara Oval and the other at the Sinhalese Sports Club. With the P Sara Oval, considered Sri Lanka’s most seamer-friendly wicket, it is possible that Binny could slot in. Leading up to the game, the indication is that a pacer will in all likelihood replace the third spinner, especially as Harbhajan Singh was largely ineffectual on a turning pitch in Galle.Despite the Sri Lankan elections taking place on Monday, India will train at the P Sara Oval in the late afternoon.

Derek Bowden, a former chief executive at Ipswich Town FC, has been named as the new chief executive at Essex. He will join the club early in the season.

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Feb-2013Derek Bowden, a former chief executive at Ipswich Town FC, has been named as the new chief executive at Essex. He will join the club early in the season.Bowden joins Essex at a vital time in the county’s history. Agreement has been reached for an £80m redevelopment of the County Ground which will include the building of several apartment blocks around the ground to finance a new pavilion, media box, cricket school, car park, public square and bridge over the River Cam.Before joining Ipswich, Bowden spent more than 18 years in senior management roles at Saatchi & Saatchi, the global advertising agency.Nigel Hilliard, chairman of Essex Cricket, said, “Derek has a wealth of experience in the commercial and sporting world, which will be of great benefit to the club at a time when we are embarking on a major redevelopment of the ground.”The first phase in the redevelopment is to build a block of 62 apartments on top of the current cricket club car park. Only a few remain unsold. Upon completion, Essex’s capacity will rise by 2,000 to 8,000.Bowden replaces David East who will soon take up the post of chief executive of Abu Dhabi cricket club and Emirates Cricket Board.

N Srinivasan, the BCCI president, has said that the Indian board does not have any reservations against technology as such, but reiterated its scepticism of the Decision Review System

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jan-2012N Srinivasan, the BCCI president, has said that the Indian board does not have any reservations against technology as such, but reiterated its scepticism of the Decision Review System. Speaking to , Srinivasan said the BCCI’s opposition of the DRS was based on the lack of evidence supporting the accuracy of Hawk-Eye, and the unreliability of Hot Spot.”The BCCI is not against technology at all,” Srinivasan said. “I am an engineer myself. Technology that is not perfect will not add to decision making, it will take away from it. We have explained our position at ICC meetings that the ball-tracking technology is faulty. Even the inventor [agrees] there’s an uncertainty about it. The problem of Hot Spot was very evident in the England tour [where it presented a number of ambiguous verdicts, though the technology has improved markedly since then]. These are the two main elements that make up the DRS, and both do not stand up to the test of perfection.”Srinivasan said that during one of his meetings with the technology providers he had been told that a “leap of faith” was required to believe in the ball-tracking technology being used in the DRS.”I had a presentation made to me by the Hawk-Eye people. Without going into all the details when I finally said, ‘How can one be certain that the track showed by the computers was the actual path taken by the ball,’ I was told, ‘That is a leap of faith you have to take’. I was not prepared to take that leap of faith.”Srinivasan, who juggles the responsibilities of being an IPL governing council member and the owner of the Chennai Super Kings franchise in addition to being the BCCI president, stressed that his multiple roles did not involve any conflict of interest. Srinivasan is the managing director of India Cements, the company that owns the Super Kings franchise.”I don’t agree there is any conflict since no decision has been taken for the sake of one particular franchise,” Srinivasan said. “India Cements is a public company that owns the bid for a team after securing permission from the BCCI. This was a declared situation, that I was the MD of the company.”All decisions [pertaining to the IPL] are taken by the general body of the BCCI – 30 members are there. The governing council has 13 eminent people. There is no decision made exclusively for one franchise. Decisions are made by all these people, for all franchises.”Srinivasan also shot down suggestions that Indian selection panel head Kris Srikkanth’s involvement with the Super Kings – he was a brand ambassador of the franchise in its first season – may have led to the inclusion of a large number of players from the state of Tamil Nadu in the Indian team. Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu.”I will not talk about that,” Srinivasan said. “There are five selectors, and I have no role in selection. I was the board secretary, and I convened those meetings, but I am not a selector. If there was an impression that someone who should not have been in the team [was picked] … the entire cricketing press was there, but not a word, not even a squeak was there.”When the interviewer hinted that the press wasn’t in a position to speak up since the BCCI controlled their access to cricket in India, Srinivasan said: “What access, nothing of that kind.”N Srinivasan: “We don’t give any directions to them, neither do we pull them up for anything”•Sajjad Hussain/AFP

Srinivasan explained the cases of M Vijay and Abhinav Mukund – Tamil Nadu openers who have been in and out of the India side in the recent past – to reinforce his point. “M Vijay was chosen and he performed well; when he did not he was dropped. When he went outside, Zimbabwe and other things, his scores were not there and he automatically got the boot. The only other player was Abhinav Mukund who went to West Indies [and England] but he was not picked [later]. Instead, Ajinkya Rahane has gone to Australia.”Another contentious issue pertaining to the BCCI that gained currency during the England tour, was the potential conflict of interest involving two commentators. Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar, both contracted employees of the BCCI, were perceived to be toeing the board’s line on issues such as the DRS and the influence of the IPL on India’s Test performances. Srinivasan, however, said the BCCI had never sought to control what they said on air.”They [Shastri and Gavaskar] are not ‘hired guns’; saying so is not fair to the two of them. They have a contract with the BCCI, which was decided by the board at that time. I have read criticism on this. I have read people saying that the board gags the commentators or instructs them. I can assure you only one thing: we do not tell the commentator a single word. Suggesting that ‘we don’t have to’ is unfair to the two of them.”You have to understand the type of person that I am. The last thing that I would do would be to talk to a commentator to give a feeling, should we not give this flavour … I would find it demeaning to do. We don’t give any directions to them, neither do we pull them up for anything.”Srinivasan also spoke about the BCCI’s opposition to interference from the Indian government through a planned sports bill that seeks to bring the board under the Right to Information Act (RTI).”The RTI doesn’t apply to the board. It doesn’t take one rupee from the government. There’s nothing secret about the board. Except for the selection committee, what they discuss, that is not discussed in public which is fair enough. Otherwise, in every other aspect we are transparent, we answer to the people. It is on principle. Why should the Sports Law apply to the BCCI? Without any government fingerprint – ok, we may have had the odd bad series – but over a long period of time, we have seen Indian cricket come of age.”

New Zealand Cricket XI, a shadow New Zealand Test team, have come out of the tour match against the Pakistanis in Whangarei with the psychological advantage of having taken a 97-run first-innings lead

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jan-2011ScorecardUmar Gul rearranged Brendon McCullum’s stumps on the third day•Getty Images

New Zealand Cricket XI, a shadow New Zealand Test team, have come out of the tour match against the Pakistanis in Whangarei with the psychological advantage of having taken a 97-run first-innings lead. The match ended in a draw after both teams decided to end the third and final day’s play early, with New Zealand having reached 111 for 4 in 32 overs in their second innings.Misbah-ul-Haq, the visitors’ captain, completed his century on the third day as his team added another 53 runs to their overnight total of 234 for 8. Misbah, who has scored half-centuries in each of his last three Test innings, remained unbeaten, finishing on 126, but New Zealand will be satisfied that he was the only Pakistani batsman to go past fifty. The New Zealand Cricket XI bowling attack was similar to the one expected to take-on Pakistan in the first Test, which starts on Friday, with Chris Martin, Daniel Vettori, Tim Southee and Brent Arnel all featuring in the tour match.Martin and Vettori had already taken three wickets apiece on the second day. On Tuesday morning, James Franklin picked up his second wicket of the match, dismissing Sohail Tanvir for a duck. Pakistan’s last-wicket pair put together 51 runs, with Tanvir Ahmed scoring 25 and sticking around for 52 balls to support Misbah. Southee finally took the last wicket, getting Tanvir Ahmed out caught by Tim McIntosh.Umar Gul was able to prevent Brendon McCullum from building on the confidence he earned with his first-innings double-century, bowling him for 18. Gul dismissed Kane Williamson two balls later for a duck to leave the home side at 25 for 2. McIntosh and James Franklin spent some time at the wicket, getting 26 and 30 respectively. Younis Khan took the final wicket of the day with his seamers, bowling McIntosh. Wicketkeeper Reece Young and Southee were unbeaten at the end of play.

Wriddhiman Saha’s selection today in the India squad for the first Test against South Africa, though surprising, has once again put him in the familiar No. 2 spot, this time behind captain MS Dhoni

Judhajit Basu28-Jan-2010It’s a strange case of being behind the pack for Wriddhiman Saha. He rose to become first-choice wicketkeeper for Bengal only after Deep Dasgupta’s exit to the ICL and was mostly going to be behind Brendon McCullum and Tatenda Taibu when it came to doing duty for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. It didn’t help, either, when KKR got Morne van Wyk on board for the second season in South Africa.Dasgupta is now back in the official fray after his two-year stint in the ICL but Saha’s selection today in the India squad for the first Test against South Africa elevates him, if briefly, to the India squad – even though he’s once again No. 2, this time behind captain MS Dhoni. “It’s yet to sink in,” Saha said. “I knew that the team selection was today, but I clearly didn’t expect to be picked. I’m elated nonetheless; it’s certainly a pleasant surprise.”Saha knows his chances of actually playing in the match are slim but he’s looking to make the most of the experience. “It depends on the team management and what decision they take on the day,” Saha said. “I’ll be heading to Nagpur with a positive frame of mind. If I get the opportunity [to play], I will try and make full use. I am not concerned whether I actually do get a chance, but I will try to learn as much as possible from the seniors around me. It’s definitely a great honour and opportunity to share the dressing room with the likes of Dhoni, Sachin [Tendulkar], [VVS] Laxman and Zaheer [Khan].”Saha began his career in style, becoming the 15th Bengal player to score a hundred on Ranji debut against Hyderabad back in November 2007. But it was during the inaugural IPL that he came to prominence. Handed the opportunity following Dasgupta’s exit, Saha finished second, behind Mumbai Indians’ Yogesh Takawale, in the wicketkeeping honours list with 10 dismissals (eight catches and two stumpings). He also scored 159 runs in those 12 matches at 31.80, with a strike-rate of 133.61. His brave 59 in a losing cause against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali, seemingly, had announced his arrival.His performance in the second edition though, was slightly disappointing, managing just 72 runs in eight matches at 24.00, even though his strike-rate improved to 175.60. With van Wyk and McCullum to contend with, he had no dismissals to his credit then.Saha’s domestic form in the 2009-10 Ranji Trophy kept the selectors interested. Though Sourav Ganguly, Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Manoj Tiwary hogged Bengal’s batting charts with 50-plus averages, Saha’s 318 runs from five matches at 39.75 could not be ignored. His classy 120 against Delhi in Kolkata during the league stage coupled with his 15 dismissals was bound to work in his favour at some point. Making the cut for the Board President’s XI to take on the touring Sri Lankans in November last year was as close as he got.Even though there was a minor blip ahead of his call-up today – a duck for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final against Central Zone – his first-class average of 44.80 and the corresponding figure for List A games at 43.90, may have prompted Kris Srikkanth and the others on the selection panel to promote him as back-up to Dhoni. He knows his long-term future with India is in his hands.”After Sourav Ganguly, several players from Bengal had got a look-in for the Indian team, but they could not cement their places,” Saha said. “But I intend to perform well to stay there as long as I can. This is just the beginning, and I have a long way to go. I am keen to work hard and improve in all aspects of the game. The upcoming Test may be just a one-off appearance but I would like to make my place in the team certain. There’s definitely scope for improvement in my wicketkeeping skills and I will seek Dhoni’s advice in that regard.”

West Indies bowled out for 141 in a session after Head, Webster and Carey combined to set up a match-winning lead with the bat

Andrew McGlashan27-Jun-20250:47

Hazlewood tears through West Indies’ top order

Josh Hazlewood led Australia’s surge to a 159-run victory in Barbados as West Indies lost all ten wickets in the final session of the third day, the final two falling in consecutive deliveries to Nathan Lyon in what would have been the last over of the day.Australia claimed the extra half-hour with West Indies seven down but with Shamar Joseph throwing the bat, having been dropped in the deep by Sam Konstas, and Justin Greaves playing solidly, it appeared Australia would be forced to return on the fourth day. However, Shamar edged to slip before Jayden Seales was caught at short leg to end the match. It completed a performance where familiar Australia strengths came to the fore amid continued questions about the top order, but they were confronted by challenging conditions.Travis Head, who was the beneficiary of West Indies’ seventh dropped catch of the match, Beau Webster and Alex Carey all played with the proactiveness needed on this surface. Head was named Player of the Match for his twin half-centuries on a tricky surface. Carey’s superb strokeplay gave Australia plenty of buffer zone when it came to defending the target, meaning a repeat of what happened in the World Test Championship final was always unlikely on a surface that remained devilish at times, especially with the harder ball.Related

• Chase calls out 'so many questionable calls' in Barbados Test

• However you get 'em – Head, Carey and Webster show the way

Mitchell Starc struck in the first over of the chase when former captain Kraigg Brathwaite clipped loosely to backward square0leg where Konstas held a low catch. However, that was followed by some adventurous strokeplay by John Campbell, including a sweep against Hazlewood, as he and Keacy Carty made encouraging process.But innovation brought Campbell’s downfall when he attempted to lap-sweep Hazlewood again, and this time could only glove the ball to Carey. Next ball, Brandon King got an inside edge into his pads which flew high towards gully where Cameron Green, who had earlier given Carty a life on 1, used all his height to cling on. Sadly for Hazlewood, he did not make Roston Chase play at the hat-trick delivery as a packed ring of catchers awaited.Not that he was delayed long when, two overs later, Chase got an inside edge that looped to short leg before spearing one through Carty. This was Hazlewood at his very best: hammering away at a back-of-a-length and giving the surface every chance to play some tricks.Pat Cummins was then the beneficiary of those tricks when Shai Hope was cleaned up by a wicked delivery that scuttled under his bat. The run-scoring of Australia’s middle order against an older ball felt a long time ago. The only question was whether the visitors could get the job done in the evening.Marnus Labuschagne, on as a sub, produced a direct hit to remove Alzarri Joseph and Hazlewood removed Jomel Warrican for his fifth wicket. Shamar Joseph launched two balls out of the stadium and some frustration was growing for Australia before Lyon sealed the job in fading light.Travis Head celebrates his second fifty in the match•Randy Brooks/Associated Press

The game was in the balance at the start of the day, Australia ahead by 82, with plenty of eyes on how the surface would play. There was an early grubber to Head, which fortunately for him wasn’t straight, and he responded by flaying the next delivery through the off side. As Head would later find out there was always something lurking, but with a touch of fortune, runs were there to be made when intent was shown.West Indies, though, were their own worst enemy again. On 21, Head was given a life when Greaves spilled a chance at second slip. It was the seventh they had put down for the game and had come after coach Daren Sammy had overseen the morning slips catching practice where nothing had been spilled. Head went to his second fifty of the match from 77 balls.Webster, meanwhile, built an excellent innings, the third of his brief Test career, which has come on a challenging surface following the debut half-century against India at the SCG. He used his reach to good effect to get to the ball but was especially eye-catching off the back foot through the off side.Travis Head and Beau Webster got the first century stand of the Test•Randy Brooks/Associated Press

The stand of 102 was broken when Head received a brute of a delivery from Shamar Joseph that barely bounced, the only success for West Indies in the morning session when they would have hoped to knock over most of the remaining Australia batting.After the break, Webster brought up his fifty from 100 balls with a thick edge along the ground through gully before glancing Shamar Joseph down the leg side to Hope. An on-field not-out decision was overturned by third umpire Adrian Holdstock without any of the drama of the previous day.By then Carey was into his stride after having started positively but went up a gear in the over following Webster’s departure when he took 14 off Seales including the shot of the match: a skip down the pitch and perfectly executed lofted straight drive into the sightscreen. He went on to repeat the stroke against the lesser pace of Greaves, sending him over the stands at long-off, to motor to a 40-ball half-century as the game sped away from West Indies.When joined by Lyon and Hazlewood, he started to farm the strike as West Indies set their entire field back to him before lofting Chase into the deep. Shamar Joseph, who bowled the most overs in a match of his brief Test career, removed Hazlewood to claim the five-wicket haul which eluded him in the first innings.