Youthful West Indies Batsmen Exposed by Ruthless Australian Bowling

The West Indies batsmen came into the first innings in the second Test at home to Australia behind by just 399 runs after restricting their opponents with the ball.

However, at the end of the second day and with the hosts’ innings in tatters at 143 for eight, the Baggy Green's total looks beyond them and their inexperienced lineup.

This West Indian team, as has been the case for many years now, is a team in transition, as a number of young batsmen have been thrust into Test match cricket.

Unfortunately, they came up against a motivated and potent Australia bowling attack that would trouble any batsman in the world, and they have come up well short of what they wanted. It is hardly surprising, however, given that several of the batsmen in the West Indies’ top six have played only a handful of Tests between them.

Rajendra Chandrika joins a growing list of openers tried out by the West Indies in the last few years, and on debut he was dismissed for a duck by Mitchell Starc. It may have looked as though Starc overstepped the popping crease in his delivery, but that does not change the fact that Chandrika hung his bat at a delivery and was caught behind.

In his seven balls at the crease, he had a severe examination by Starc and Josh Hazlewood, and he could not quite deal with the heat he was under. Only time will tell if he is up to standard, but it was a lot to ask of a debutant in Tests to come up against such a strong and deep pace attack.

Below him, Shane Dowrich joined the fray at the crucial No. 4 position in just the eighth over after the other opener, Kraigg Brathwaite, was dismissed.

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Dowrich is playing just his second Test, and he showed some heart to battle away for 30 balls for 13 runs before he could not resist driving at a wide one from Hazlewood that Brad Haddin caught behind.

Similarly, Shai Hope is in just his third game in cricket’s longest format, and he was perhaps one of the most encouraging of all the youngest players, as he made 26 from 63 deliveries. He found himself tied down by Nathan Lyon and was caught behind by Haddin off the off-spinner, but he showed he had the stomach for the fight.

The best performance came from Jermaine Blackwood in just his 10th Test, as he made a relatively positive 51 from 80 balls, a knock that included one six and seven fours. However, he was guilty of giving in to temptation too, as he drove a simple catch to David Warner at mid-off off Hazlewood and had to depart.

It was unfortunate that so much was asked of these youngest players, as Lyon removed the more experienced Brathwaite and Darren Bravo to leave their side under pressure.

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If one or both of them had stayed at the crease, perhaps the innings would not be in such disarray, but this young team has left itself with so much to do to avoid defeat.

They came up against a strong Australia bowling attack that is blessed with great depth in all departments.

Starc and Hazlewood looked superb with the new ball, while Lyon’s economy rate is just below three runs per over as he exploited a helpful surface. Then, with Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson providing support, it is little wonder the West Indians struggled so much.

The West Indies clearly have talented players, if inexperienced, and many have had a baptism of fire against this strong Australia team.

They are not entirely to blame for their predicament, but in the 47 overs they faced, they showed that they have plenty to learn if they are to succeed in Test cricket.