Australia beat the West Indies by 10 wickets in the first Test and secured victory before lunch on day three at the Adelaide Oval. But not before opening batsman Usman Khawaja took a sickening blow to his helmet, causing him to vomit blood.
Australia tied the score at 26 just 11 minutes before lunch to win 0-26, leading 1-0 in both Tests and making it their 13th consecutive title defense since 1994-95 Frank Worrell Trophy.
However, something dramatic happened at the end when, with the score tied, Khawaja (No. 9) was hit hard on the helmet by Shamal Joseph’s short ball. The veteran opener, caught in two thoughts of dodging or defending, winced, turned his head at the moment of impact, and suffered a severe blow to his chin.
When West Indies showed concern and a doctor ran to the pitch, Khawaja felt his upper jaw and cheekbone area and bled from his mouth. He was forced to retire due to injury, leaving Marnus Labuschagne (No. 1) to score a run and new Australian opener Steve Smith to score in the 11th over Stay undefeated.
Khawaja passed an initial concussion test but has gone to hospital for further scans and will be tested again within 24 hours of the results.
“He looks fine, just a little soreness in his jaw, so we’ll monitor that,” Australia captain Pat Cummins said. Khawaja will be ruled out of the second Test starting in Brisbane next Thursday if he suffers a concussion, with Matthew Renshaw replacing him.
Earlier, Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood completed a 5-wicket haul as the tourists were bowled out for 120, leading by just 25 runs. West Indies scored 188 in the first innings and Australia, with Travis Head hitting 119, responded with 283.
It was another series win for Australia, following their 3-0 sweep of Pakistan last month and an impressive run in 2023 that saw them defend the Ashes, win the World Test Championship against India and win the ODI World Cup.
It was yet another honor for Australia captain Pat Cummins, who became only the second captain in 82 Adelaide Tests to win after an opponent batted.
Hazlewood took 4-41 in the first dig, including his 250th Test wicket, before claiming 5-35 – his 11th in a Test innings Taking 5 or more wickets, but still far from his first 10 Test wickets – in his 67 Test career.
West Indies resumed the match at 6-73 and lost Joshua Da Silva in the fourth over. Da Silva (18 years old) fell into the Australian trap. With two fielders on the leg-side boundary, he bowled a short delivery from Mitchell Starc (2-46) to Hazlewood at brilliant leg.
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Soon after, Starc collected his second wicket when Alzarri Joseph (16) drifted outside off-stump and got close to wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Hazlewood achieved his latest milestone in the next over when he bowled three runs to Gurdaksh Mooti – the left-hander didn’t bowl and bowled it cleanly.
West Indies debutant Shamal Joseph took 5 Australian wickets and took 15 off 12 balls after batting for 36 at No. 11 in the first innings before advancing to Nathan Lyon (2 – 4) of pitching and getting stumped.
Cameron Green (1-9) was another successful bowler, while Kirk McKenzie top-scored the visitors with 26 and was also their top scorer in the first innings with 50 .
The second Test, a pink-ball day-night affair, will begin on January 25 in Brisbane.
