The State Of West Indies & Australian Cricket

It was some way to end a series. In the last innings of the last Test of the series, Mitchell Starc takes 6 and Scott Boland a hat-trick to dismantle the West Indies. The first Australian to take a test hat-trick since fellow Victorian Peter Siddle took one on his 2010 birthday. It was the end to a three-match Test series won by Australia 3-0.

The West Indies were sensationally restricted to just 27, the second lowest score in test cricket history. The record lowest is 26, scored by New Zealand in Auckland in 1955. So barely above the record. This was not the greatest series for batting. No innings got passed 300. There is still not much confidence with regards to Australian openers with both Khawaja and Konstas having a poor series.

Scott Boland (middle) takes a hat-trick (Pic credit: AP)

The openers are mentioned because it has been an ongoing problem. Since Warner retired, even indeed before he retired, Australia has had a difficult task ensuring security at that position. But the truth of the matter is against most test playing nations it does not matter. Partly because, the Australian bowlers are that good. They have showed they have the ability to help win matches when the top-order batters struggle.

But even in spite of Australia's batting woes. Even though, the team is still so often reliant on Steve Smith, Travis Head or Alex Carey to mop up for other's mistakes, it matters little. Australia is still winning matches and winning them well. This is sad really, because we want Australia to be tested. We want to see what sport's best perform under pressure. It is doubly sad for the West Indies. They have such a huge connection to Australia. From World Series Cricket and then for pretty much 20 years thereafter, the West Indies toured this country every year. The team most feared through the '70s and '80s is barely even a shadow of its former self. More like a spec off in the distance.

Richie Richardson (right) holds back Curtly Ambrose (centre) from Steve Waugh (left) at Port of Spain in 1995, in a series that ended in a famous Australian victory (Pic credit: AP)

Even worse, there is no guarantee we see this match-up in test cricket again. The ICC is finalising the upcoming Future Tours Program. There is no guarantee that an Australia-West Indies test tour will be part of the fixture. Especially so, if test cricket is split into two tiers. Now in theory, tiers would work to provide smaller nations a clear pathway to playing the big nations in the most iconic format. However, there is real fear that the two tiers won't be connected.

If there is no promotion and regulation, and if Australia and the West Indies are in two separate tiers, who knowns if they'll play each other going forward. The two bodies could organise a series independent of the tiers system, but with the cricket fixture so crammed, where would it all fit?

Brandon King (left) plays a shot against Australia during day two of the second Test match. (Pic credit: AP)

The West Indies is struggling in test match cricket and is less of a force in cricket at-large. The reason is easy: money. It is losing money and even more worryingly it's losing interest. "To be honest, I have moved on from cricket. The authorities are doing whatever they feel like irrespective of what anyone says, so I see no need to continue beating my head against a stone wall. I don’t even watch the games any more, so I’m sorry, but I can’t help you". That is a quote from Michael Holding, a West Indies legend. His feelings are felt across those islands. This has been well know. The struggle of the West Indies was mentioned in the still brilliant 2015 documentary, Death of a Gentleman, which looked at how Australia, England and India are hurting other cricketing nations. Ten years on, things aren't any better.

The fall of West Indies is like losing a close family member or a great hero of yours, it doesn't fell right or the same. Nations like the West Indies are not competing with the likes of Australia on the cricket field and it is nowhere close from the financial scene off the ground. This actually hurts Australia because they are not getting a true test, and that is what makes it test cricket.

Lorenzo Di-Mauro Hayes also writes cricket articles for the Australian Cricket Society and the Footy Alamac.