KINGSTON (Jamaica): On the third day of the third Test at Sabina Park, the West Indies recorded one of the lowest totals in the history of Test cricket, bowled out for just 27 runs in 14.3 overs. This collapse handed Australia a 176-run victory and a clean 3-0 series sweep.
The West Indies’ total is now the second-lowest in Test history, behind only New Zealand’s 26 in 1955. The performance also marks their worst-ever Test score, previously 47 against England in 2004.
Mitchell Starc’s milestone Test becomes one for the ages
Marking his 100th Test appearance, Mitchell Starc produced one of the greatest bowling spells of modern cricket. The 35-year-old claimed 6 wickets for 9 runs, including three wickets in his first over, reaching his 400th career Test wicket in the process.
He also set a new world record for the fastest five-wicket haul in men’s Test cricket — achieved in just 15 balls.
“To play 100 Tests shows how consistent Starc has been… to me, he is a modern-day great,” former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram told AFP, praising Starc’s longevity and skill.
Starc’s fiery opening over removed John Campbell, Kevlon Anderson, and Brandon King — all within six deliveries. His outswingers and reverse swing with the pink ball left West Indies clueless under the lights.
Boland’s hat-trick, seven ducks, and historic lows
As if Starc’s demolition wasn’t enough, Scott Boland added his name to history with a dramatic hat-trick, removing Justin Greaves, Shamar Joseph, and Jomel Warrican. He became only the 10th Australian to achieve a Test hat-trick.
The collapse featured:
- Seven ducks in the innings — a first in Test history
- Just 6 runs from the top six batters — the lowest ever
- Only 170 runs from West Indies across both innings — their lowest ever in a full Test match
- A total of 516 runs in the entire match — the lowest combined tally in a completed men’s Test since 1910
Australia had earlier posted 204 runs, thanks to contributions from the lower middle order. The West Indies, chasing 204, were dismissed in a mere 14.3 overs, making it the third shortest completed innings ever in terms of overs bowled.
Historical Test records updated
| Team | Score | Overs | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 26 | 27.0 | v England | Auckland | 1955 |
| West Indies | 27 | 14.3 | v Australia | Kingston | 2025 |
| South Africa | 30 | 18.4 | v England | Gqeberha | 1896 |
| South Africa | 30 | 12.3 | v England | Birmingham | 1924 |
| South Africa | 35 | 22.4 | v England | Cape Town | 1899 |
Pride for Australia, heartbreak for the Caribbean
For Australian fans, this match will be remembered as a celebration of fast bowling. Starc, playing his 100th Test, showed why he is regarded among the finest of his era, while Boland continues to shine as an efficient destroyer.
For West Indies cricket, however, this defeat will sting deeply. Sabina Park, once a fortress of Caribbean cricket, witnessed a display of complete batting failure — the kind that sparks uncomfortable questions about the team’s direction and preparation.
“This wasn’t just a defeat. It was a statement by Australia, and a cry for help from West Indies cricket,” said a former Caribbean international speaking to local media.
