Remorseless Australian bowling onslaught blows away West Indies in second Test

The Grenada National Stadium bore witness to a familiar script on day four of the second Test, as a clinical Australian bowling attack dismantled the West Indies batting lineup with chilling efficiency. Chasing a formidable target, the home side succumbed for a mere 143 runs in less than 35 overs, handing Australia a dominant 133-run victory and securing a 2-0 series triumph. Much like the series opener in Barbados, the contest concluded with a West Indian batting performance that was as shambolic and uninspired as their earlier bowling efforts had been commendable. The final scoreline of Australia 286 & 243, West Indies 253 & 143, painted a stark picture of the gulf between the two sides.

The ongoing narrative surrounding West Indies cricket often feels like a well-worn tale, one that sports enthusiasts have been reading, and some even writing, for decades. The sense of inevitable decline, particularly when faced with a challenging fourth-innings chase, has become almost tragically predictable. Despite the initial resilience shown by the West Indies bowlers in parts of the match, their batsmen offered little resistance when it mattered most, evaporating under the pressure of the Australian onslaught. There’s a particular pang of sadness that accompanies witnessing a team with such a rich cricketing heritage seemingly devoid of the belief or resources to mount a serious challenge once a target even approaches 250.

Australia, meanwhile, showed no mercy, executing their plans with precision and intensity. Their bowlers operated with a relentless focus, exploiting every weakness in the West Indies' fragile batting order. This remorseless approach allowed them to wrap up the match early on the fourth day, underscoring their superior depth and tactical acumen. While the series victory in Grenada was perhaps an expected outcome given the significant resource disparity between the two cricketing nations, the manner of the West Indies' collapse still leaves an unsettling feeling, highlighting the profound challenges facing Caribbean cricket in the Test arena. The visitors’ comprehensive win ensures they leave the Caribbean having asserted their dominance unequivocally.