Brathwaite, Bravo steady Windies start in third Test vs Australia

Brathwaite hit an unbeaten half-century and with Bravo steadied the tourists’ innings in an unbroken 79-run partnership following the early dismissal of Shai Hope.

Recalled left-arm tweaker O’Keefe celebrated his first Test wicket on home soil, removing Jason Holder with the help of a superb one-hander from Joe Burns at short leg.

Bravo and Brathwaite guided West Indies to a score of 1-104 before Australia swung momentum their way.

The West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first in third and final cricket test against Australia in Sydney.

Team officials said an injury to the 30-year-old Guyanan’s left rotator cuff he sustained before the second Test in Melbourne would prevent him playing on a track that Australia expect to provide plenty of turn for their spinners Nathan Lyon and Stephen O’Keefe. The innings fell away disappointingly after a promising opening session by the West Indies, who lost both the first two Tests of the three-Test series.

However, Carlos Brathwaite and Ramdin came together in a seventh wicket stand now worth 48, to stall Australia’s progress and ensure West Indies were still afloat at the close.

Only 75 overs could be played as 15 overs were wasted due to rain.

Brathwaite was uncharacteristically audacious, twice coming down to Lyon and lifting the bowler back overhead for boundaries.

The forecast was for further rain later Monday and on Tuesday.

That brought Samuels to the crease in a failed attempt to breaking a run of eight test innings without getting over the 20-run mark.

An error in judgement caused his downfall, however, offering no stroke to one from Lyon that ripped back to hit off stump with West Indies on 131 for four.

Once they did get under way, there was barely time for Nathan Lyon to bowl three dot balls to Denesh Ramdin before rain began to fall again and the teams headed for the pavilion.

Simmons reiterated his desire to have the strongest XI possible playing for the West Indies.

Meanwhile, Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh reiterated that his side will still be looking to push hard for a win if the weather gets kind. “At the end of the day we might be able to have a solution, but you still might have players that don’t think they can play Test cricket or don’t want to play Test cricket anymore”.

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland told cricket.com.au awarding Sydney two Tests would be a “break from recent tradition”.