Team Lineups
The 21 year old new sensation Jake Fraser-McGurk finally got his well deserved call up to the national team. The Victorian openers recently set a new record of scoring the quickest century in list A cricket. He comes in for opener Travis Head who was released from the squad to get some rest. Lance Morris was axed from the team after just one match. Another young first bowler made his debut for the Australian national team in this match. 24 year old Victorian Will Sutherland made his first appearance for the Aussies. Xavier Bartlett was also given a rest after his match innings performance in the first match. Josh Hazlewood is back for his ODI duty after sitting out the first game.
The West Indians made two alterations to their team which was comprehensively beaten in the first ODI at the MCG. 34 year old middle order batter Kjorn Ottley came to the squad in the place of Kavem Hodge. The Tridinadian got another chance at the international level after failing to make his mark in the first three matches. Hayden Walsh Jr. struggled to make any impact in the previous match. He was replaced in the team by Alzarri Joseph who was rested in the last match.
Australia
- Jake Fraser-McGurk 2. Josh Inglis (WK) 3. Cameron Green 4. Steve Smith (Cap.) 5. Marnus Labuschagne 6. Matthew Short 7. Aaron Hardie 8. Sean Abott 9. Will Sutherland 10. Adam Zampa 11. Josh Hazlewood
West Indies
- Alick Athanaze 2. Justin Greaves 3. Kjorn Ottley 4. Shai Hope (Cap.) (WK) 5. Keacy Carty 6. Roston Chase 7. Matthew Forde 8. Romario Shepherd 9. Alzarri Joseph 10. Gudakesh Motie 11. Oshane Thomas
West Indies captain Shai Hope won the toss and elected to bat first. The surface at the SCG is a batting fielding track with the ball coming seamlessly to the bat. The pacers seem to find their rhythm in the later stages of the match after initially struggling during the powerplay. In the 167 games that have been played at this ground, 97 were won by the teams that chose to bat first. The teams fielding first won on 64 occasions. The average first innings score at this ground is 223.
Fixture
This is the second time Australia is playing ODI cricket after their World Cup final win against India in November. The Aussies are enjoying a hot streak with nine wins on the bounce. The West Indies on the other hand, have only managed four wins in their last ten outings. However, they performed impressively last December to claim a 2-1 series victory against England. The two most successful nations in ODI cricket have clashed on 144 previous occasions. Six time World Cup winners Australia have the upper hand with 77 wins to 61 West Indian victories. Three games did not yield any results, with three ties in the mix.
In the games played on Australian soil, the hosts have won 42 games. The Windies are not far behind with 35 wins. In the last meeting between the two sides before this series, Australia beat the hosts by six wickets to claim a 2-1 series win back in July 2021
| Venue | The Dettol ODI series kicked off with a day-night game at the famous Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) |
| Date | The game started at 9:30 a.m. IST on Sunday, February 4 |
Captaincy & Tactics
Sean Abbott’s outstanding all-round performance showcased his talent as Australia triumphed over West Indies in the ODI series at the SCG. Abbott’s exceptional display with both bat and ball played a crucial role in Australia’s victory, leading to a 2-0 series lead. In a match where tricky batting conditions tested the players, Abbott’s contributions stood out among the rest.
Australia found themselves in a precarious position, struggling at 91 for 5 and later at 167 for 7, but Abbott’s resilient half-century and lower-order partnership with Will Sutherland helped the team stage a remarkable fightback. Abbott’s career-best 69 not out was complemented by his bowling performance, where he claimed three vital wickets for 40 runs. One of his wickets included a spectacular catch by Cameron Green at midwicket, showcasing the fielding brilliance on display.
The debutant, Will Sutherland, made an impact by taking his maiden international wicket by dismissing Romario Shepherd. Josh Hazlewood, who was brought into the game to manage resources, also showcased his class by scalping three wickets. Gudakesh Motie proved to be a tough challenge for Australia’s batsmen, claiming three wickets for 28 runs.
Australia’s top order showed promise with several players making starts but failing to convert them into substantial scores. Abbott’s aggressive batting in the closing stages, including striking consecutive sixes, provided the team with much-needed momentum. Despite the spinners from West Indies causing difficulties, Abbott’s onslaught helped Australia post a competitive total.
In the second innings, Australia’s bowlers made early inroads with Aaron Hardie and Hazlewood taking crucial wickets. Abbott’s all-round contribution continued as he picked up a key wicket to keep the pressure on West Indies. The spin resources for Australia were limited after Matt Short’s injury, putting more responsibility on Adam Zampa.
Debutants Jake Fraser-McGurk and Sutherland added a fresh dynamic to the Australian team. Fraser-McGurk’s aggressive yet short-lived innings left an impact, while Sutherland’s all-round skills proved valuable. The selectors managed player workload by resting Xavier Bartlett and Lance Morris after their debuts in the previous match.
Batting Analysis
Fraser-McGurk’s fearless strokeplay, combined with moments of brilliance, showcased the young talent’s potential. His brief yet impactful innings reflected the team’s aggressive intent at the top of the order. Despite early setbacks, Australia’s middle order stabilized through partnerships between less experienced players like Short and Hardie.
Sutherland and Abbott’s resilience in the lower order proved vital in guiding Australia to a competitive total. Sutherland’s gritty knock, supported by Abbott’s attacking display, showcased the team’s depth in batting resources. Although scoring was a challenge, Abbott’s aggressive approach helped Australia gather crucial runs towards the end of the innings.
Overall, Australia’s comprehensive performance was a result of contributions from both established players and newcomers. Abbott’s standout all-round display, along with supporting acts from Sutherland and Hazlewood, played a pivotal role in securing the series lead against a determined West Indies side. With a mix of experience and emerging talent, Australia’s depth in resources bodes well for future challenges in the series and beyond.
New opener Jake Fraser-McGurk making an impactful debut. Eager to make his mark, Fraser-McGurk showcased his aggressive intent by attempting to launch his first ball into orbit. Despite a play and miss off the second delivery, he managed to find his rhythm and struck a boundary through mid-on off Alzarri Joseph’s bowling. Fraser-McGurk’s innings was a rollercoaster ride as he sent a towering flick off his pads soaring 94 meters into the stands before departing for 10 off five deliveries, setting the tone for Australia’s innings.
Cameron Green, continuing his good form from the previous match, displayed his class with a flurry of glorious straight drives and a massive six over midwicket. However, like his teammates Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Short, and Aaron Hardie, Green couldn’t capitalize on his promising start and fell to Oshane Thomas after mistiming a heave over the leg side.
The innings took a turn when Sean Abbott stepped in to stabilize the innings in the 29th over, showcasing his batting prowess and salvaging Australia’s prospects. Gudakesh Motie emerged as the standout bowler for West Indies, picking up three crucial wickets alongside Roston Chase, who maintained control and conceded only two boundaries in their combined 20 overs.
The absence of leg-spinner Hayden Walsh was felt by the West Indies, as they opted for a pace-heavy bowling attack with the return of Alzarri Joseph. Australia made strategic changes to their lineup, with Fraser-McGurk stepping in for Travis Head, Will Sutherland replacing Xavier Bartlett, and Josh Hazlewood being included in the squad for his home ODI.
Bowling Analysis
The match started on a tough note for West Indies as they lost early wickets in their chase. Alick Athanaze fell victim to Aaron Hardie’s bowling, while Josh Hazlewood dismissed Justin Greaves early on. Kjorn Ottley’s departure to Abbott further compounded West Indies’ woes, leaving them struggling at 34/3 in the ninth over.
Despite the early setbacks, West Indies found some respite as Shai Hope and Keacy Carty stitched together a crucial partnership to stabilize the innings. However, Hazlewood struck again to remove Hope, adding to West Indies’ batting woes and putting them under immense pressure.
As the chase progressed, Abbott continued to make an impact, disrupting West Indies’ middle-order by claiming the wicket of Carty, who had shown promise with a resilient 40-run knock. Roston Chase and Carty tried to rebuild the innings, but Abbott’s relentless bowling ended Chase’s stay, further denting West Indies’ hopes of a successful chase.
The Australian pacers, supported by effective spin bowling from Adam Zampa, maintained a stranglehold on the West Indies batting lineup. Wickets fell at regular intervals as Abbott and Zampa, along with the other bowlers, showcased their skill and control to restrict the opposition.
In the end, it was a collective bowling effort from Australia that ensured West Indies fell short of the target. Abbott’s three-wicket haul, combined with contributions from the rest of the bowling unit, proved too much for the visitors as they were bowled out in the 44th over.
Turning to Australia’s innings, the home team faced early setbacks after being asked to bat first. Alzarri Joseph made early inroads by dismissing the openers, putting Australia under pressure. Jake Fraser-McGurk’s aggressive start was short-lived as he edged one to the wicketkeeper, while Josh Inglis fell to a sharp catch at backward point.
Despite the early setbacks, Cameron Green’s positive intent and aggressive stroke-play provided some momentum to the Australian innings. Green’s fluent strokes, including three fours in an over off Joseph, showcased his batting prowess and helped stabilize the innings momentarily.
However, West Indies continued to chip away at the Australian batting lineup, with Steve Smith falling victim to a delivery from Matthew Forde after a promising start. Marnus Labuschagne’s dismissal to Gudakesh Motie further dented Australia’s batting order, leaving them in a precarious position at 91/5.
In a bid to resurrect the innings, Matthew Short and Aaron Hardie forged a crucial partnership to steady the ship. The duo displayed resilience and determination, stitching together a valuable partnership to counter the West Indies bowling attack. However, Motie’s impressive spell saw the back of both set batsmen in quick succession, leaving Australia reeling at 167/7 after 35 overs.
With Australia in a precarious position, Abbott and debutant Will Sutherland played pivotal roles in reviving the innings with a resilient 57-run partnership for the eighth wicket. Abbott’s aggressive batting, punctuated by powerful hitting and two sixes off Romario Shepherd, propelled Australia past the 250-run mark before he was eventually dismissed.
Despite a late-order resistance from the tailenders, Australia managed to post a competitive total, thanks to Abbott’s heroics with the bat and valuable contributions from the lower order. The determined effort with the bat, coupled with a disciplined bowling display, ultimately paved the way for Australia’s victory in a closely contested match.
Fielding Analysis
The Windies fielding performance left a lot to be desired. They were sloppy in the field with several chances being missed. Keacy Carty could not hold on to an straightforward catch of Aaron Hardie at point. Justin Greaves then produced a moment of magic in the field. The batter pulled off a stunning reflex catch to dismiss Will Sutherland.
Cameron Green has a habit of picking up outstanding catches at gully in Test cricket. The all-rounder replicated the same effort this time in white ball cricket. He dived to his right and completed a sensational grab at midwicket to dismiss Roston Chase. Wil Sutherland took the first catch of his international career when he jumped and took the catch of Justin Greaves. Australian wicketkeeper Josh Inglis continued his form with two regulation catches behind the wicket.
Key Performances
Australia were 91 for 5 in the 15th over, then Sean Abbott came to the crease to start a rescue act. The all-rounder from New South Wales scored the third fifty of his career, playing a gem of 63 from 69 deliveries with a four and four sixes. Matt Short looked to be fine touch and scored 41 with the bat. Cameron Green seemed to be setting in his top order duty, scoring 33 runs from 41 deliveries. Aaron Hardie and Marnus Labuschage also contributed with 26 runs each.
Gudakesh Motie was the pick of the West Indies bowlers with 3 wickets for 28 runs in his ten over spell. The Australians were having troubles while facing the left-arm spinner from Guyana. Romario Shepherd and Alzarri Joseph claimed two scalps apiece, but they were expensive.
The West Indies batting was lacklustre and never looked to be challenging the target. Keacy Carty was the only Caribbean batsman who was fluent in his approach, scoring 40 runs from 51 deliveries. Roston Chase and Shai Hope were the only two other batters who posted 20+ scores for the visitors.
Sean Abbott followed up his heroic batting performance with a good shift with the ball. The right-arm fast bowler claimed three wickets for 40 runs. World champions Josh Hazlewood also picked up three wickets in his first game after the World Cup final. Will Sutherland enjoyed a fine debut. The Victorian scored 18 runs with the bat and then picked up 2 wickets for 28 runs in an eight over spell.
Turning Point
The innings of Sean Abott ultimately changed the game for the Australians. Abbott came to the crease with the Aussies reeling at 148/6. The West Indian bowlers were dominating by picking up wickets at regular intervals. On the other hand, the hosts were trying to accumulate a total that would give something for the bowlers to defend. Abbott was positive from his initial approach, taking the aerial route on various occasions.
The 31 year old attacked from the beginning to put the Windies bowling under some pressure. Abbott’s offensive approach tilted the balance of the game which seemed to be going the Windies’s way. The New South Wales all rounder smashed four sixes and one four to score the second fifty of his career. The Australians put 258 on the board, a figure which was more than enough to secure the game.
Match Result
Australia won the second ODI match of the series by 83 runs to take an unassailable lead in the three match series.
Player of the Match
Sean Abbott was chosen as the man of the match for his outstanding all-round performance. The all-rounder from New South Wales played a game turning knock of 69 runs from 63 deliveries to rescue Australia from a tight situation. Then he picked up three wickets for 40 runs to secure an easy victory for his country. He also took two decent catches in the field.
Brief Scorecard
| Australia Total: 258/9 (50 overs) | West Indies Total: 175 (43.3 overs) |
| Sean Abott 69 (63) | Keacy Carty 40 (51) |
| Matt Short 41 (55) | Roston Chase 25 (41) |
| Gudakesh Motie 3/28 (10 overs) | Sean Abbott 3/40 (10 overs) |
| Romario Shepherd 2/50 (8 overs) | Josh Hazlewood 3/43 (8 overs) |
Match Highlights
Match Wrap-Up
It was eventually an easy win for the Australians who were outplayed during the early exchanges of the game. The Windies new ball bowlers of Windies put pressure on the Australian top order who crumbled. Then Sean Abbott played an important knock with the bat, then he followed it up with a brilliant bowling performance. The Windies played well in stretches but in the end, the Aussie might was too much for them. The two sides would meet for the final game of the series at Manuka Oval on Tuesday.
