West Indies created history by winning their first match on Australian soil in 27 years. What made this win more special was the fact that it came in a day-night Test at the Gabba in Brisbane. Australia had never lost a day-night Test before this game and was defeated only once at the Gabba in the last 35 years before this match. West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite revealed the motivation for the win against Australia in the second Test.
Australia was looking strong at the start of the day as Steve Smith and Cameron Green established a steady partnership and were cruising towards another win. However, West Indies pacer Shamar Joseph bamboozled the Australian batters taking figures of 7/68 in his spell of 11.5 overs. West Indies defeated Australia by eight runs and won a Test match on Australian soil after 27 years.
West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite revealed his team’s motivation for winning the match and it was Mr. Rodney Hogg who remarked the West Indies team as pathetic and hopeless. They defied all odds to pull out a scintillating victory against the World Test Champions Australia. He even showed his biceps as a reminder that his team is not pathetic and asked Rodney Hogg if they were big enough while showing his muscles.
“Mr Rodney Hogg said that we were ‘pathetic and hopeless’. That was our inspiration. We wanted to show the world we’re not pathetic. And I must ask him ask him, are these muscles big enough for him [Shows his biceps],” Brathwaite said in the post-match presentation.
Watch: West Indies Skipper Showing His Biceps Over Rodney Hogg’s ‘Pathetic’ Remark
“Mr Rodney Hogg said we were pathetic and hopeless. So that was our inspiration, we wanted to show the world we are not pathetic.
“And I must ask him, are these muscles big enough for him?”
– Kraigg Brathwaite #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/Js2Eo7kqSD
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 28, 2024
Australia is still on the top of the WTC table with a PCT of 55 whereas West Indies has moved to seventh from eighth with their PCT being 33.33. Australia have lost only two Test matches at the Gabba in the last 35 years. The first one was against India in January 2021 during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy whereas the second one came against West Indies which was completely unexpected given Australia was playing with their best team.
West Indies won the toss and opted to bat first in the Test and scored 311 in the first innings laying back on half-centuries by Kavem Hodge, Joshua Da Silva, and Kevin Sinclair. Australia in return declared on 289/9 as Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey, and Pat Cummins smashed half-centuries. The Windies were bowled out for 193 in their second innings and Australia needed only 216 runs to win the Test and the series.
However, Shamar Joseph was unleashed by the Windies and he took a seven-fer to take his team home with a win on Australian soil. Australia will now play three ODIs against the West Indies commencing on February 2 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The second and third ODIs will be played in Sydney and Canberra respectively.
