The opening day of the first Test between West Indies and Australia at Bridgetown, Barbados, delivered high drama and electric pace bowling as Shamar Joseph’s four-wicket haul sent the Australian batting line-up crashing. With both teams trading blows on a spicy surface, the contest is perfectly poised after a frenetic Day 1, with West Indies trailing by 123 runs at stumps and fans abuzz with excitement.
Jayden Seals’ 5-fer and Shamar Joseph’s four-star show wrecks Australia on the opening day
The day began with Australia winning the toss and electing to bat, but their decision quickly backfired as West Indies pacers, led by Joseph, made early inroads. Joseph struck in the fourth over, trapping debutant Sam Konstas lbw for just 3. He followed up by removing Cameron Green for 3, leaving Australia reeling at 14/2. Joseph’s relentless accuracy and movement off the seam proved too much for the visitors, and by the 16th over, Australia had slumped to 22/3.
After a brief fightback from Usman Khawaja and Travis Head, who stitched together a crucial 89-run partnership, Joseph returned to break the stand. He dismissed Khawaja for 47, then quickly accounted for Beau Webster, finishing with impressive figures of 4/46 from 16 overs, including three maidens. His fiery spell, complemented by Jayden Seales’ five-wicket haul, ensured Australia were bowled out for a modest 180 in just 56.5 overs.
Joseph’s performance was particularly special, given his history against Australia and his growing reputation as a big-match player. His ability to strike early and then return to break key partnerships underlines his importance to the West Indies attack.
Also WATCH: Shamar Joseph delivers twin blows to remove Sam Konstas and Cameron Green as Australia falters early on Day 1 of Bridgetown Test
Here’s how fans reacted:
Jayden Seales – Take a bow!
A fiery five-fer against Australia, sheer heart in every delivery.#JaydenSeales #WIvAUS #TestCricketpic.twitter.com/Rh7ne3YrOT— Ganesh (@GaneshVerse) June 26, 2025
Jayden Seales. Bowling sensation from West Indies #WIvAUS #WIvsAUS pic.twitter.com/G0YTnwfigU
— Imran Zafar (@Gondal_hon) June 26, 2025
AUSTRALIA BOWLED OUT FOR 180 IN THE 1ST INNINGS VS WEST INDIES.
– Jayden Seales the superstar with 5/60. pic.twitter.com/TvwkaUGZgg
— Md Nagori (@Sulemannagori23) June 26, 2025
Day 1, Stumps
Scorecard https://t.co/G0FsARR46I
West Indies: 57/4, trail by 123 #CricketTwitter #WIvAUS #westindiescricket pic.twitter.com/Fbb0nFEEOt
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) June 26, 2025
Jayden Seales since 2024 :-
◉ POTS in England
◎ 4th Best bowling avg itw
◉ 2nd Best bowling SR itw pic.twitter.com/XBHZWkg5pF— DIVYANSH CHAUHAN (@Imchauhan28) June 26, 2025
Shamar Joseph has picked up right where he left off in Brisbane, the famous 7-wicket haul, with an injured toe, to secure a famous Test win. With four wickets already in Barbados, he now has taken 17 wickets in Tests against Australia at an outstanding average of 14.76 pic.twitter.com/C38Q6baRxQ
— Hess obituary (@fazalmed4918215) June 26, 2025
Shamar Joseph against Australia in test cricket is just Fabulous #WIvAUS #ShamarJoseph #TestCricket pic.twitter.com/2NQcb9nTbz
— Cricket _talks (@Cric_nzz) June 26, 2025
Shamar Joseph exists in Test Cricket just to cook the Aussies pic.twitter.com/1N0LmXDbOx
— 𝗔𝗿𝘂𝗹 𝗠𝗖 (@Arul_mc_127) June 26, 2025
A new Rising star for the West Indies, Shamar Joseph!#ShamarJoseph #WIvsAUS
pic.twitter.com/yaiP87Gm0i— TheFinalOver (@hastnaam) June 26, 2025
– Gets Sam Konstas.
– Gets Usman Khawaja.
– Gets Cameron Green.SHAMAR JOSEPH HAS DOMINATED AUSTRALIAN TOP ORDER pic.twitter.com/UIJbU3k4nS
— Kanak Kumari (@KanakKu64995524) June 26, 2025
Travis Head – Shamar Joseph –
— AntiBazballian (Joe Root Paglu) (@rs_3702) June 26, 2025
West Indies dominate early as Australia hit back before stumps on Day 1
With the momentum firmly in their favor, West Indies looked to press home the advantage with the bat. However, Australia’s pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood responded in kind, making early breakthroughs. Starc removed both openers, Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell, cheaply, while Cummins and Hazlewood chipped in to leave West Indies wobbling at 16/2 and then 53/4.
Brandon King, on debut, showed composure with an unbeaten 23, but the hosts finished the day at 57/4 after 20 overs, still trailing by 123 runs. The pitch continued to offer plenty for the pacers, keeping both teams in the contest and promising more fireworks on Day 2.
Day 1 at Bridgetown belonged to the bowlers, with Joseph’s four-fer igniting the crowd and setting social media alight. As both teams eye the upper hand, fans can expect more twists in this enthralling Test series opener.
Also WATCH: Shamar Joseph cleans up Beau Webster with an absolute peach on Day 1 of first Test – WI vs AUS
