Australia defeated the West Indies by 10 wickets in the first Test, sealing victory before lunch on the third day at Adelaide Oval. But before that, the opening batsman, Usman Khawaja, took a severe blow on the helmet and was coughing up blood.
Trailing just 26 points from victory, the Australians reached 0-26 about 11 minutes before lunch, securing a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series and their 13th since 1994-95. He held the Frank Worrell Trophy in consecutive years.
However, there was drama in the second half with the scores tied when Khawaja (9) took a horrific blow on the helmet from a short ball from Shamar Joseph. The veteran opener, caught up in the idea of dodging or defending, flinched and turned his head at the moment of impact, sustaining a nasty blow to the jaw.
West Indies raised concerns and when doctors rushed to the scene, Khawaja touched his upper jaw and cheekbone area and bled from his mouth. He was forced off with an injury and Marnus Labuschagne (No. 1) hit the winning hit, leaving Australia's new opener Steve Smith unbeaten on 11.
Earlier, Australian paceman Josh Hazlewood completed a five-wicket haul as the tourists were bowled out for 120 with a lead of just 25 runs. West Indies scored 188 runs in the first innings and Australia responded with 283 runs, with Travis Head scoring 119 runs.
Australia beat Pakistan 3-0 last month to retain the Ashes and claim another series win following an impressive 2023 in which they defeated India in the World Test Championship and won the ODI World Cup. I got it.
This is another wing on the cap of Australian captain Pat Cummins, who became only the second captain to win by sending an opponent into bat in the 1982 Adelaide Test.
Hazlewood claimed 5-35 following 4-41 with the first dig, including his 250th Test wicket. It was the 11th time he had taken five or more wickets in a Test innings, but it was still nowhere near his first 10. In his 67 Test career.
West Indies resumed with 6-73 and lost Joshua da Silva in the fourth over. Da Silva, 18, fell into the Australian trap. With two fielders on the leg-side boundary, he hooked a short pass from Mitchell Starc (2-46) to Hazlewood at fine leg.
Starc quickly recovered his second wicket when Alzarri Joseph (16) drifted wide off the off-stump and beat wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Hazlewood bowled Gudakesh Motier for three in the next over to get his latest milestone. The left-hander did not give away any shots and bowled cleanly.
After newsletter promotion
Shamar Joseph, who made his debut for the West Indies, batted for 36 at number 11 in the first innings and then took five Australian wickets, but after hitting 15 off 12 balls, Nathan Ryan (2- 4), he stumbled as he reached the throw.
Cameron Green (1-9) was the other successful bowler and Kirk McKenzie was the tourists' top scorer with 26 points. He was also the highest scorer, scoring 50 runs in the first innings.
The second Test, a pink-ball day-night showdown, begins in Brisbane on January 25.
