Summary
The opening day of the first Test match between West Indies and Australia at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados turned out to be a thrilling display of fast bowling. The West Indies pace duo of Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph showcased sheer brilliance with the ball, reducing the visiting Australian side to just 180 runs in their first innings. At stumps on Day 1, West Indies ended on 57/4, trailing by 123 runs, setting up an exciting Day 2.
A Bold Decision Backfires for Australia
Australian skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bat first, hoping to take advantage of the pre-rain conditions and a slightly dry surface. However, that decision backfired as Australia lost three wickets within the first hour. Sam Konstas (3), Cameron Green (3), and Josh Inglis (4) fell cheaply to the hostile bowling of Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales.
While Usman Khawaja and Travis Head did manage to rebuild the innings with a gritty 89-run partnership, the rest of the batting order crumbled. Head top-scored with 59 runs off 71 balls, while Khawaja contributed 47 runs from 128 deliveries. Despite their resilience, Australia couldn’t build momentum due to the consistent pressure applied by the West Indies bowlers.
West Indies vs Australia 1st Test 2025 Highlights: Seales and Joseph Steal the Show
The standout performers of the day were Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph, who combined to take 9 wickets.
- Jayden Seales recorded his third five-wicket haul in Tests, finishing with figures of 5/60 in 15.1 overs.
- Shamar Joseph ended with an equally impressive 4/46 in 16 overs, continuing his stellar form against the Aussies. In fact, 17 of Joseph’s 34 career wickets have now come against Australia, highlighting his impact against this opposition.
The pitch offered significant assistance to seamers, with lateral movement and variable bounce. In total, 14 wickets fell on Day 1, the most at Kensington Oval in over a decade. Ten of those dismissals came from catches off edges, reflecting just how much movement was on offer.
West Indies vs Australia 1st Test 2025 Highlights, Brandon King’s Test Debut: Mixed Emotions
Debutant Brandon King had a mixed day. Despite dropping three catches in the field, he remained unbeaten at stumps with a confident 23 runs. King’s ability to bounce back with the bat showed mental toughness, which the West Indies will hope he builds on in the coming days.
West Indies vs Australia 1st Test 2025 Highlights: Australia’s Fragile Batting Line-up
Other than Khawaja and Head, the rest of the Australian batting line-up failed to cross 30. Notably, Beau Webster managed 11 runs, while Captain Pat Cummins struck a quickfire 28 before being dismissed by Seales. Their total of 180 all out marked Australia’s lowest first-innings score against West Indies in over 20 years.
West Indies vs Australia 1st Test 2025 Highlights: Australian Bowlers Fight Back
Despite their poor showing with the bat, the Australian bowlers responded with equal aggression:
- Mitchell Starc dismissed openers Kraigg Brathwaite (4) and John Campbell (7).
- Pat Cummins picked up Keacy Carty (20).
- Josh Hazlewood removed Jomel Warrican for a duck late in the day.
The Windies were reduced to 57/4 at stumps, bringing the game back to an even keel.
West Indies vs Australia 1st Test 2025 Highlights: Seales Reflects on His Heroic Day
Post-match, Jayden Seales spoke to broadcasters, calling the five-wicket haul “special,” especially after his injury-marred outing the last time he faced Australia. He shared that the team planned to bowl fuller lengths to extract swing and force batters to play forward. Seales also praised Shamar Joseph for his early burst that set the tone, calling him a “special bowler” who seems to raise his game against Australia.
West Indies vs Australia 1st Test 2025 Highlights: What to Expect on Day 2
With the ball starting to reverse and the pitch expected to deteriorate further, Day 2 promises to be pivotal. The morning session will be key for both teams:
- West Indies will look to close the gap on Australia’s total with a solid partnership between Brandon King and Roston Chase.
- Australia, on the other hand, will aim for quick wickets to put the home side under pressure.
Weather conditions remain dry, and the pitch is likely to provide more turn and variable bounce as the match progresses. Run scoring might become trickier, making every run valuable.
West Indies vs Australia 1st Test 2025 Highlights: Match Summary – Day 1
| Category | Australia 1st Innings | West Indies 1st Innings (Stumps) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Runs | 180 all out | 57/4 |
| Top Scorer | Travis Head (59) | Brandon King (23*) |
| Best Bowler (WI) | Jayden Seales (5/60) | – |
| Best Bowler (AUS) | Mitchell Starc (2 wkts) | Pat Cummins, Hazlewood (1 each) |
| Wickets in Day 1 | 14 wickets | – |
| Pitch Conditions | Seam, bounce, reverse | Unpredictable surface |
West Indies vs Australia 1st Test Day 1 – Key Match Stats & Highlights
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | West Indies vs Australia – 1st Test, 2025 |
| Venue | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados |
| Date | June 25, 2025 |
| Toss | Australia won the toss, elected to bat |
| Australia 1st Innings Score | 180 all out in 56.5 overs |
| Top Scorer (Australia) | Travis Head – 59 (88 balls, 9 fours) |
| Best Bowler (West Indies) | Jayden Seales – 5/60 in 15.1 overs |
| Shamar Joseph’s Bowling Figures | 4/46 in 16 overs |
| West Indies 1st Innings (End of Day 1) | 57/4 in 19.4 overs |
| Top Scorer (West Indies) | Brandon King – 23* (not out) |
| Australian Wicket-Takers | Mitchell Starc (2), Pat Cummins (1), Josh Hazlewood (1) |
| Total Wickets Fallen on Day 1 | 14 wickets |
| Jayden Seales – Career 5-Wicket Hauls | 3 (all on home soil) |
| Shamar Joseph – Wickets vs Australia | 17 out of 34 Test wickets (till date) |
| Unique Record Set | Most wickets (14) on Day 1 at Kensington Oval in the last 14 years |
| Pitch Behavior | Early seam & swing, slow surface, expected to deteriorate and aid reverse swing |
| Fielding Errors (West Indies) | 4 catches dropped (including 2 off Khawaja) |
| Key Partnership (Australia) | Usman Khawaja & Travis Head – 89-run stand for 4th wicket |
| Umpire Note | Third umpire denied Joseph a potential 5th wicket after catch review |
West Indies vs Australia 1st Test 2025 Highlights: Final Thoughts
The first day of the West Indies vs Australia 1st Test 2025 has given fans a classic battle of bat and ball. Both teams have had their moments, but it was truly a day for the bowlers. With Seales and Joseph leading the charge, West Indies showed why they’re not to be taken lightly. Australia, though hurt by their batting collapse, clawed back with the ball to ensure the match remains finely balanced.
Expect another gripping day of Test cricket when play resumes. If the pitch continues to behave the way it did on Day 1, we are in for a low-scoring, high-drama affair at Bridgetown.
Stay tuned for more live updates, scorecards, and expert analysis on the Australia Tour of West Indies 2025.
Note: All information and images used in this content are sourced from Google. They are used here for informational and illustrative purposes only.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on West Indies vs Australia 1st Test 2025 Highlights:
Q1: Who was the top performer for West Indies on Day 1 of the 1st Test against Australia?
Jayden Seales was the standout performer, taking a brilliant five-wicket haul (5/60) to dismantle Australia’s batting lineup. Shamar Joseph also bowled impressively, finishing with 4/46.
Q2: What was Australia’s first innings total in the 1st Test against West Indies 2025?
Australia was bowled out for 180 runs in 56.5 overs at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown.
Q3: How many wickets fell on Day 1 of the West Indies vs Australia 1st Test 2025?
A total of 14 wickets fell on the opening day, making it one of the most eventful first days at Kensington Oval in recent years.
Q4: How did West Indies perform in their first innings by the end of Day 1?
West Indies reached 57 for 4 wickets in 19.4 overs by stumps on Day 1, trailing Australia by 123 runs.
Q5: What made Jayden Seales’ five-wicket haul special in this match?
This was Jayden Seales’ third five-wicket haul in Test cricket, all of which have been taken on home soil. His performance was a key factor in restricting Australia to a low total.
Q6: Who dropped catches for West Indies and how did that affect the match?
West Indies fielders dropped four catches, including two by debutant Brandon King. Despite the lapses, their bowlers maintained pressure and successfully restricted the Australians.
Q7: Why did Australia struggle after choosing to bat first?
Despite favorable conditions on the surface, early moisture and seam movement made batting difficult. Australia’s top order collapsed, losing three wickets within the first hour of play.
Q8: How has Shamar Joseph performed against Australia in the past?
Shamar Joseph has now taken 17 out of his 34 Test wickets against Australia, making them his most successful opposition so far in Test cricket.
Q9: What was the importance of the 89-run partnership between Khawaja and Head?
The 89-run stand between Usman Khawaja (47) and Travis Head (59) was the only meaningful partnership in Australia’s innings and helped them recover briefly from a poor start.
Q10: What are the pitch conditions expected to be like in the coming days?
The pitch at Kensington Oval is expected to deteriorate, with reverse swing and uneven bounce becoming more prominent. Batting is likely to become increasingly challenging after Day 2.