KINGSTON, Jamaica – Mitchell Starc marked his centennial Test match with a mesmerising six-wicket haul as Australia closed out their three-match series against West Indies in historic fashion here on Monday.
Mitchell Starc celebrates his 400th Test wicket after dismissing Mikyle Louis in the third Test at Sabina Park on Monday.The 35-year-old left-arm fast bowler, playing in his 100th Test match, grabbed three wickets in his first over on his way to finishing with the astounding figures of 6-9, to see the home side bundled out for 27 in their second innings, as Australia won by a mammoth 176 runs inside three days at Sabina Park to sweep the series 3-0.
In doing so, Starc became the 18th bowler to reach 400 Test wickets, the third fastest Australian to reach the mark behind Glen McGrath (87) and Shane Warne (92), and 12th fastest overall.
Just as impressively, the 15 balls required to grab his five wickets was also the fastest in Test history.
It was the West Indies’ lowest-ever Test total – well below the 47 they were bowled out for by England at the same venue back in 2004 – and second lowest of all-time, behind only New Zealand, who were skittled out by England for 26 in 1955.
Disappointingly, it also marked the third time successive time in the series that the West Indies failed to extend the contest into a fourth day.
It was a shocking end to a day that began so full of promise for the home side.
Australia, resuming on 99 for six, lost their last four wickets for 22 runs with fast bowlers Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph doing the damage.
The latter bowled Cameron Green with an inswinger with the day’s first ball to end his resolute innings of 42 from 66 balls, while Alzarri made it 105 for eight by snaring the wicket of Pat Cummins who fended off a short ball to Kevlon Anderson at short leg.
Shamar returned to bowl Scott Boland shortly after and Alzarri captured his third five-wicket haul in Tests by rattling the stumps of last man Josh Hazlewood.
Alzarri ended with figures of 5-27, while Shamar took 4-34.
With West Indies requiring 204 runs for victory, there would have been high hopes the regional side would produce their first solid batting performance of the series.
However, Starc, who was named Player-of-the-Match and Player-of-the-Series, put an immediate end to those expectations in a back breaking opening over.
With his very first ball he found the outside edge of John Campbell’s bat for substitute wicketkeeper Josh Inglis to take a regulation catch.
Four balls later, Kevlon Anderson unbelievably chose to shoulder arms to a delivery from Starc that pitched on middle stump and was adjudged lbw without a run on the board.
Starc, the 10th ranked Test bowler in the ICC’s rankings, then bowled Brandon King off the inside edge as he attempted a cover drive with his next ball, to leave the West Indies in a state of disarray at nought for three after one over.
The carnage wasn’t over, as Starc then beat Mikyle Louis’ defensive prod in his next over to have him lbw for four, to claim his 400th Test wicket.
He then trapped Shai Hope lbw two balls later after he scored just two, picking up his 16th five-wicket haul in Tests in the process, as West Indies slipped further into trouble at seven for five.
Hazlewood broke the monotony by having captain Roston Chase caught behind for a duck as he tried to execute an ambitious drive, to see the home side limp to tea at 22 for six.
Fast bowler Scott Boland then added his name to the history books in spectacular fashion, becoming the third Australian to take a hat-trick against the West Indies in a Test match.
He first had Justin Greaves caught at second slip for the topscore of 11, and with his next two deliveries he trapped Shamar Joseph lbw and bowled Jomel Warrican to spark wild celebrations among his teammates, as West Indies crumbled to 26 for nine.
Starc then fittingly put the finishing touches on the contest by bowling Jayden Seales to register his best ever bowling figures in a Test innings.
Boland finished with 3-2 from his two overs.
