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Key Points

Jayden Seales considers his five-wicket haul against Australia his career-best performance despite not feeling at his peak. The young West Indies pacer teamed with Shamar Joseph to rip through Australia's batting lineup in Barbados. Seales credited Joseph's fiery opening spell for setting up their dominance on day one. Australia fought back late to leave the Test finely balanced after an action-packed opening day.

Key Points: Jayden Seales hails 5-wicket haul vs Australia as career-best

  • Seales and Shamar Joseph combined for 9 wickets vs Australia
  • 23-year-old ranks 10th in ICC Test bowlers
  • Aussies crumbled to 180 despite Head's 59
  • West Indies stumbled to 57/4 in dramatic day
3 min read

Jayden Seales calls 5-wicket haul against Australia his best effort yet

West Indies pacer Jayden Seales calls his 5/60 against Australia his finest Test performance yet after dismantling top-ranked batters in Barbados.

"This is probably my best five-wicket haul because it wasn't my best day - Jayden Seales"

Bridgetown, June 26

West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales believes his five-wicket haul against Australia on the opening day of the first Test in Barbados was the finest performance of his career so far, according to the official website of the ICC.

Seales and fellow pacer Shamar Joseph ripped through the highly-rated Australian batting order to dismiss the tourists for just 180, before the Aussies fought back to have the hosts reeling at 57/4 at stumps following an action-packed opening day to the ICC World Test Championship encounter at Kensington Oval.

Seales finished with 5/60 in 15.5 overs, and Joseph had figures of 4/46 in 16 overs.

It was the third time in his short international career that Seales had registered a five-wicket haul, and the 23-year-old, who is 10th on the ICC Men's Test Bowler Rankings, said it was his favourite one yet.

"This is probably my best five-wicket haul because it wasn't my best day and I didn't feel at my best any time throughout the day," Seales said, as quoted from the official website of ICC.

"There were times I felt good, but throughout spells I didn't feel like I was in full control of what I wanted to do or was executing or nailing my lengths and lines as consistently as I wanted, so this one is probably my most special one," he added.

It was Joseph who did the early damage for the West Indies as he dismissed Sam Konstas and Cameron Green during a blistering opening spell to help reduce Australia to 22/3, and it took a 89-run partnership from Travis Head and Usman Khawaja to wrest the momentum back from the West Indies quicks.

"I think that's what opened the game right up for us," Seales said of Joseph's early spell.

"Blowing away the top-order is the most important thing in this cricket, and that made it a lot easier for us in the middle and in the back end of the innings, so he did a fantastic job for us today," he noted.

Head, who top-scored for Australia with 59 and was the only batter on the day to surpass 50, was full of praise for the West Indies' bowling attack.

"I thought Jayden bowled exceptionally well," Head said after play.

"Alzarri (Joseph) is always there or thereabouts and Shamar again put the ball in the right areas and asked questions," he added.

"There were no surprises on what they were able to bring and get things out of the wicket, but vice versa," he noted.

"We were able to do the same thing tonight (during the final session) and probably makes for an important couple of hours in the morning," he said.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
What a spell by Seales! 🇮🇳 As an Indian cricket fan, I love seeing young fast bowlers shine. Our own Bumrah started similarly. Hope WI cricket rises again - the game needs strong Caribbean teams! #Respect
P
Priya M.
Seales' humility is refreshing! Admitting he didn't feel at his best yet delivered a 5-wicket haul against Australia? That's champion mentality. Indian bowlers should take note - sometimes heart matters more than perfect rhythm.
A
Arjun S.
The WI-Aus rivalry always produces fireworks! Reminds me of our Border-Gavaskar battles. Though I wish the ICC would give India more Test matches against WI - their young pace attack vs our batters would be 🔥
S
Sneha R.
While Seales was brilliant, I'm more impressed by Shamar Joseph. From a remote village to troubling Australia - what a story! Hope BCCI scouts are watching. We need to nurture our own pace talent from smaller towns.
V
Vikram J.
Good performance but let's see if they can maintain this against India. Our batsmen play pace better than Australia these days. Still, happy to see Test cricket getting exciting contests outside the 'Big 3'.
N
Neha P.
The commentator said "West Indies are back!" too soon 😅 Australia already fighting back. But seriously, this is why Test cricket is the best - twists every session! Hope D/N Tests become regular in India too.

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