THE West Indies appear to be back to their sparkling best after edging past hosts Australia, brilliantly drumming up a tense eight-run win to grab a share of the spoils in their two-match Test series.

Having destroyed England in white-ball formats, the Caribbean side surprisingly slumped to a hefty defeat in their opening Test inside three days at the Adelaide Oval.

Yet they bounced back from that insipid display courtesy of an inspired seven-wicket haul from Guyana’s pacer Shamar Joseph, who almost single-handedly earned the tourists a gripping success to grab their first Test victory Down Under since 1997.

Joseph’s explosive second innings bowling stunned the crowd inside the Gabba in Brisbane. His figures of 7-68 was all the more remarkable as he had left the crease in tears the previous day following a freak toe injury when batting.

Rookie Joseph, who only gave up his security guard job 18 months ago to pursue a full-time cricket career, required treatment before day four. He almost failed to be involved in what turned out to be the final day’s play, but scans on his injured toe revealed there was no breakage.

The Windies brilliantly bounced back from being annihilated by ten wickets in their opening Test, when only lower batsman Joseph (36) and Jamaican all rounder Kirk McKenzie (50) showed any resistance with the bat in their first innings.

Joseph, who had impressed with a five-wicket haul as Australia struggled with his pace and precision in the opening Test, was not expected to make the same impact at the Gabba — whether injured or not.

The Windies were surprisingly brimming with confidence at the crease after winning the toss and electing to bat first. They amassed a creditable yet slow 311. Their first innings was wonderfully held together by the resilience from Bajan wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva (79) and Dominica’s Kavem Hodge (71), as well as fireworks from Guyana’s Kevin Sinclair (50).

Antigua’s Alzarri Joseph aggressive bowling outfoxed four Australian batsman, while explosive knocks from opener Usman Khawaja (75), wicketkeeper Alex Carey (71) and skipper Pat Cummins (64no) saw the hosts courageously declare at 289-9 off just 53 overs.

In response McKenzie finished top scorer with 41 off 50 deliveries, trapped lbw by Nathan Lyon trying to sweep the ball, as the West Indies laboured to a disappointing total of 193 all out. Shamar Joseph retired injured after being hit flush on the foot by Mitchell Starc. His toe injury was monitored by medical staff, and it appeared that he was highly unlikely to be further involved in the final Test.

With the hosts expected to reel off the required target of just 216 they finished the third day at 60-2. It didn’t appear to be much of a challenge for Australia who were dominant at the crease as Cameron Green (42) and Steve Smith (91no) added 53 runs to the total on day four, before Green was clean bowled by Shamar Joseph.

His two wickets in two balls gave the tourists a fighting chance, although Australia still looked comfortably on track to seal the series at this stage. Yet the 24-year-old turned on the style to bowl 11.5 overs on the bounce to lead the Windies to a sensational triumph with wickets tumbling fast and furiously to deservedly collect the man of the match accolade as Australia stuttered to 207 all out.

The shock victory was their first Test success over Australia since 2003, and will leave the Windies rejuvenated for next month’s white-ball formats contests Down Under with renewed hope in their ability following years of being in the doldrums.

Post-matchJoseph enthused: “Today’s a big day for us. I feel like we won the [Test] series even though it’s finished 1-1.

“Tears would have come to my eyes, but I already cried when I got my five-wicket haul [in the 1st Test].”

TEST SERIES | West Indies drew with Australia 1-1
1st Test (January 16-18)
Australia won by ten wickets
WI 188 all out (62.1 overs) & 120 all out (35.2 overs)
Australia 283 all out (81.1 overs) & 26-0 (6.4 overs)

2nd Test (January 25-28)
WI won by eight runs
WI 311 all out (108 overs) & 193 all out (72.3 overs)
Australia 289-9 declared (53 overs) & 207 all out (50.5 overs)

ODI SERIES | Australia v West Indies
1st ODI (February 2) | MCC, Melbourne
2nd ODI (February 4) | Sydney Cricket Ground
3rd ODI (February 6) | Manuka Oval, Canberra

T20I SERIES | Australia v West Indies
1st T20I (February 9) | Blundstone Arena, Holbart
2nd T20I (February 11) | Adelaide Oval
3rd T20I (February 13) | Perth Stadium