West Indies set a new low in Test cricket as they were bowled out for just 27, recording the lowest score in the longest format of the game in 69 years. However, they narrowly avoided the humiliation of being dismissed for the lowest score in Test history. That dubious record still belongs to New Zealand, who were bowled out for 26 against visiting England in Auckland in 1955. Since then, no team had been bowled out for a lower total - until West Indies were humbled by Australia at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica, on Monday night.
Australia, having set a target of 204 for the hosts, won the pink-ball Test by 176 runs after being bowled out for 121 in their second innings. The match concluded within three days. The previous lowest score by the West Indies in Test cricket was 47, which they recorded against England in 2004.
Australia’s ace pacer Mitchell Starc, playing his 100th Test, returned with astonishing figures of 6 for 9, including five wickets in 15 balls, setting the record for the fastest five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Starc also became the fourth Australian bowler to reach 400 Test wickets, joining the elite club of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, and Nathan Lyon.
Scott Boland contributed with a hat-trick as the visitors clinched the series 3-0. Earlier, Australia beat West Indies by 159 runs in the first Test at Barbados and by 133 runs in the second Test at Grenada.
"It's heartbreaking to be in a position where we think we can win the game and then come out and have that poor batting display," said Windies captain Roston Chase after the horrific result. "It's something that has been recurring for the whole series—that makes it even more disappointing."
At Sabina Park, the West Indies had reduced Australia to 99 for 6 in their second innings. The visitors could add just 22 more runs to their innings, as Alzarri Joseph ripped through the batting line-up, picking up five wickets for 27 runs.
When the West Indies came out to chase the 204-run target, they were immediately under fire from Starc’s destructive bowling. He removed John Campbell with the first delivery of the innings, trapped Kevlon Anderson leg-before with the fifth ball, and bowled Brandon King with the sixth—all three dismissed without scoring.
Starc then removed opener Mikyle Louis, who managed only four runs, and Shai Hope (2) in his third over, leaving the hosts reeling at 7 for 5 after just 4.3 overs. Josh Hazlewood dismissed West Indies skipper Chase before Boland struck with a hat-trick.
Justin Greaves was the West Indies’ top scorer in the innings, scoring 11 off 24 balls. He was removed by Boland with the first ball of the 13th over. Boland then took the wickets of Shamar Joseph and Jomel Warrican to complete his hat-trick.
A misfield allowed West Indies a run when the score was on 26, before Starc bowled Jayden Seales to end the hosts’ innings and claim his 402nd Test wicket. West Indies will now host Australia in a five-match T20I series, starting on July 21 in Jamaica.