The second day of the first Test at Kensington Oval in Barbados saw another flurry of wickets as Australia maintained a lead of 82 runs by day’s end. The West Indies resumed their innings at 4-57 but were ultimately bowled out for 190, giving them a narrow 10-run lead.
Shai Hope top-scored with 48 runs, yet his dismissal sparked controversy when a catch by Alex Carey was deemed legitimate. Mitchell Starc stood out among the Australian bowlers with figures of 3-65. The West Indies had a rocky start in the field, with Sam Konstas dropped twice on a duck, but Australia failed to capitalise. Usman Khawaja (15) and Konstas (5) were dismissed early, leaving the scoreboard at 2-34.
Josh Inglis looked poised to contribute more but was unexpectedly bowled for 12 by Jayden Seales after misjudging a delivery. Cameron Green’s innings also ended prematurely as he edged a catch to slips for 15. At stumps, Australia managed to reach 4-92, with Beau Webster (19) and Travis Head (13) remaining at the crease.
After play, Starc remarked on the "indifferent" nature of the pitch, emphasising that it provided opportunities as long as bowlers maintained good line and length. He noted that while runs were available, scoring wouldn’t come easy, referencing the successful 67-run partnership between Roston Chase and Hope earlier in the match.