Reigning Twenty20 World Cup champions the West Indies finally flexed their muscle against a depleted Australia to post 6-191 in their one-off clash at the Gabba on Wednesday night.
At the same time a Matthew Wade-captained Australian team played a tour match in India, national T20 captain George Bailey led out an unheralded line-up featuring three debutants.
They belied their inexperience at first to restrict the Windies after the early loss of matchwinning opener Chris Gayle (eight) in just the second over and stifling pressure from left-armer James Faulkner (3-28 off four overs).
But late hitting from Kieron Pollard (26 off 17 balls), Andre Russell (23 not out off 11) and captain Darren Sammy (20 off seven) ensured a more than competitive total against the green Aussies.
Denied Australian cricket’s biggest stars due to the clash with the Test tour of India, fans voted with their feet in Brisbane – barely half of the Gabba was full for what was supposed to be this summer’s international cricket climax.
While players tried to thrust their name in front of Test selectors in the two-day clash with the Indian Board President’s XI in Chennai, punters were struggling to recognise all the Australian T20 players at the Gabba.
But that could not stop Australia knocking off one of cricket’s biggest names in the second over – Gayle.
At first it appeared it may be Gayle’s night after he overcame a back complaint that had kept him out of the last two of the Windies’ 5-0 ODI series loss to Australia.
On just the fifth ball of the match, the dreadlocked, big-hitting left-hander was dropped in a woeful effort by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin off Clint McKay on one.
However, Nathan Coulter-Nile made amends by pulling off a spectacular catch at mid-on off fellow debutant Josh Hazlewood (1-36) to end Gayle’s knock the next over and reduce the Windies to 1-11.
An 88-run second wicket stand by Johnson Charles (57 off 35 balls) and Darren Bravo (32 off 27) steadied the innings but the reigning World Cup champions still looked set to be restricted by the no-name Aussies.
At one stage Faulkner took two wickets in three balls as the Windies looked to end their woeful tour with a whimper.
But the Windies showed their experience by peppering the half empty Gabba stands late in the innings, including 17 off the last over.
Bailey and Adam Voges both overcame hamstring complaints, ensuring Queensland batsman Joe Burns will have to wait a little longer for his international debut.
Australia included three debutants – Coulter-Nile, Hazlewood and NSW batsman Ben Rohrer.
Windies quick Tino Best will also play his first T20 international.
