THE second CG Insurance One Day International (ODI) between West Indies and Australia was postponed Thursday due to a non-playing member of the West Indies staff testing positive for COVID-19.
According to Cricket West Indies (CWI), this decision was taken after the toss at Kensington Oval once the result was known.
The established COVID-19 protocols stipulate that all members of both teams and match officials will return immediately to the team hotel and will be re-tested later on the same day (Thursday 22nd).
The players will remain in isolation in their hotel rooms until their PCR-Test results are returned.
According to CWI, “A decision on when the match will be replayed will be made at a later date once all the test results are confirmed.”
Johnny Grave, the CWI CEO, said “The results of the fresh round of tests would be known by Friday morning.”
Thursday events will likely put the remainder of this series in doubt with the final ODI scheduled to take place today (Saturday 24th July) at the same venue.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday evening, it was sweet revenge for the Australian team, led by wicketkeeper batsman Alex Carey in the absence of Aaron Finch sidelined with a knee injury. The visitors cruise to victory in the first one-day international (ODI) after a brilliant new-ball display from Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood at Kensington Oval in Barbados.
Hayden Walsh Jr once again was West Indies leading wicket taker as he took 5 for 12 from 16 balls in a clever death-bowling performance that restricted the Aussies to 252 for the loss of 9 wickets, Walsh Jr finish with 5 for 39 from his 10 overs, Alzarri Joseph 2 for 40 and Akeal Hosein 2 for 50.
For the Australians, new skipper Alex Carey top scored with 67 off 87 balls that included 4 fours and 2 sixes. Ashton Turner 49, Josh Philippe 39, Ben Mc Dermott 28 and Mitchell Marsh 20 also reached double figures.
Chasing 257 for victory, Mitchell Starc figures 5 for 48 in 8 overs and Josh Hazlewood 3 for 11 in 6 overs went on a rampage, reducing the West Indies to 6 for 27 at one stage to effectively decide the game inside the first eight overs (7.4) of a run chase that was shifted to 49 overs after a brief rain delay.
For West Indies, only captain Kieron Pollard, who struck 56 off 57 which included 5 fours and 3 sixes in his first game, back from a hamstring injury that kept him out from the entire T20 series which the West Indies won 4-1, offered any resistance to the Australians as they were bowled out for 123 in 26.2 overs to give Australia a 133-run win.
Other batsmen to reach double figures, Hayden Walsh Jr 20, Alzarri Joseph 17 and ShimronHetmyer 11.
This was West Indies third-largest runs defeat to Australia, and their biggest since 2008.
The Teams
West Indies: Kieron Pollard (captain), Evin Lewis, Darren Bravo, ShimronHetmyer, Jason Mohammed, Nicholas Pooran (wicketkeeper), Jason Holder, Hayden Walsh, Alzarri Joseph, Akeal Hosein and Sheldon Cottrell.
Australia: Alex Carey (captain / wicketkeeper), Ben McDermott, Josh Philippe, Mitchell Marsh, Moises Henriques, Ashton Turner, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Wes Agar, Josh Hazlewood, and Adam Zampa.
