Australia's Opening Struggles vs West Indies Persist

Before this Test, Australia's batting lineup has undergone significant changes.

It was suggested that this marked the beginning of Australia's new batting era.

With Steve Smith wounded, Marnus Labuschagne dropped, and Australia reeling from a South African attack in northwestern London, it was time to take a chance.

And with only three Tests remaining until the Ashes, it's now or never.

With Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis brought in together, there was a sense that this was the beginning of a much-needed revamping of Australia's top order. 

But, as much as things change, they remain the same, and after a nightmare first hour that saw the Aussies reduced to 3-22 in the 16th over, it took two seasoned veterans to save the day.

In a nutshell, the first hour was a terrible disaster for Australia.

Konstas was away for three days.  Green was out for three, having already been dropped at zero.  Inglis was ruled out for five games.

Had Windies debutant Brandon King not suffered a case of the butterfingers at Gully, Khawaja would have been added to that list for a total of six as well, adding to a trend of low scores for Australia's lone steady column at the top of the order. 

It was a tense start, with hitters twitching and hesitant on a surface with plenty of movement.

Those nerves may be reasonable, but none of the issues are new.

Much like Australia struggled to reorder its batters the last time these two teams faced in a Test series in 2024 after David Warner's retirement, the Aussies were still in almost the same position, unsure of who should sit at the top of the order.

Since Warner's retirement, Khawaja's opening partners have come and gone, with Smith, Labuschagne, Travis Head, Konstas, and Nathan McSweeney all getting their turn, resulting in a confusing conveyor belt of unusual possibilities, none of which ever fully suited. 

Making a quick judgment about this lineup's prospects based on one inning on a difficult pitch away from home is ludicrous.  On flatter Australian pitches, this lineup is expected to flourish. 

Even a two-paced pitch could not explain some of Australia's new guard's dismal top-order batting performances.

The hoopla surrounding Konstas over the last year meant that his return to the side to partner Khawaja had a similar aura to the Special Ks from the tennis world. Still, in its first version, this series ended up appearing just as flaky as the breakfast cereal.  

Konstas appeared cagey, lasting only 14 jittery deliveries in which he barely middled a single ball before being trapped LBW by the outstanding Shamar Joseph, albeit with a wonderful, seaming delivery of the type that openers are likely to face.

Proponents of the 19-year-old's early Test debut, this is his 31st first-class innings in 17 matches and only his third Test match, would argue that trials like this are necessary for his growth into a free-hitting David Warner-style opener.

And they are correct. 

Konstas has progressed enough that making sweeping, grandiose statements based on a single innings in unfamiliar conditions in Bridgetown would be to assume that every game he plays will be like the Boxing Day blast that flustered Jasprit Bumrah six months ago and that every inning is a failure unless he reverse sweeps every ball.

Joseph was outstanding throughout the day, bowling to a plane and striking a difficult length for everyone. Australia's Gabba Golem returned to tease the Australian batters once more. 

His delivery to bowl Beau Webster for 11 before tea was nearly unplayable, veering and grazing the top of the off bail.

He should have had a second wicket in the same over that he dismissed Konstas, finding the edge of Green's bat only to see rookie Brandon King waste a clean chance at gully.

Joseph harassed Green, regularly breaking his edge; the West Australian was guilty of playing outside his body with the hard hands that hurt him against South Africa at Lord's. 

Despite Khawaja being dropped by his captain at first slip during that period, Joseph kept his head up, finding the edge of Green's bat again to end his erratic stay, with Justin Greaves collecting a stunning low catch at second slip.

How the Australians were dismissed should raise some worries about their ability to bat at the top of the order against anything like a moving ball. 

On a track that was not as flat as advertised, all of Australia's top three were guilty of playing too far out from their bodies, inviting the edges that eventually lost Konstas and Green their wickets.

Konstas was caught in the crease, his lack of footwork once again a weakness, while Green was too eager to get bat on the ball, pushing his hands well outside the line and paying the consequence.

Inglis appeared to be at ease at the crease, but a lack of patience caused him to swing recklessly at a short delivery that he skied, with Shai Hope catching it easily. 

Australia had not scored a single boundary in the first 15 overs, stuck in a cage of doubt created by a shaky selection strategy and reinforced by the top order's failures.

As is frequently the case, it was Travis Head who came in and changed the narrative with another spectacular 53.

As is his habit, Head sank to one knee and smacked a wide pitch through the covers with conviction that the Australian batters before him lacked, scoring his first runs off only the fifth delivery he faced.

The first boundary of the innings occurred on the 96th ball of the contest.

Head's excellent use of controlled aggression, cutting and scything anything outside of the stumps, appeared to provide the vital reset for Khawaja, who sent Alzarri Joseph over square leg for a stunning six only three balls after Australia broke its boundary duck.

Australia struck five boundaries in the next 16 balls, releasing the old stagers' constraints.

Khawaja was far from his classic best, with his cagey footwork and shot instability leading to some perplexing decisions and a slew of bad strokes. He was fortunate not to lose his wicket before departing for 47, especially after being dropped on 45.  

His 128-ball stay was precisely what Australia needed, but it wasn't all that easy, and it mirrors an increasingly troubling pattern.

The 38-year-old has only hit two hundred in his last 42 innings, one of which was a stunning double in Galle earlier this year.

Unfortunately, the progression is currently only going in one direction.

Head, however, was extraordinary.  Again. 

The last time he played the West Indies, he got a king pair for the first and only time in his Test career, signalling the beginning of a rare downturn in which he scored only 80 runs in seven innings.

There was some luck in his extended stay, as the South Australian survived a terrifying assault from Shamar Joseph shortly before tea and was only saved from getting dismissed for 53 by a compassionate judgment by third umpire Adrian Holdstock.

It was a good thing Head's luck held out because outside of him, the batting options were limited.