West Indies defeats Australia by eight runs in historic Gabba upset

Tom Naghten

West Indies defeats Australia by eight runs in historic Gabba upset image

The West Indies have claimed an incredible Test victory over Australia at the Gabba thanks in large part to a Shamar Joseph masterclass, as the young bowler finished with match figures of 7/68. 

For the first time since 1997, Australia lost a home Test to the West Indies, going down by eight runs after a collapse on day four of the second and final Test of the series.

The result also marks West Indies' first victory in Brisbane since 1988 and just the second time the hosts have lost at the Gabba in the same period.

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West Indies defeats Australia in historic Gabba upset

Australia started the day at 2/60 chasing the victory target of 216, with Steve Smith and Cameron Green at the crease.

The pair made their way quite comfortably to 2/113 before Joseph tore through the middle order.

Considered an outside chance to even bowl on day four after wearing a Mitchell Starc yorker to the toe on Saturday, Joseph, playing in just his second Test, surpassed his efforts from his debut innings in Adelaide in which he claimed 5/94.

In consecutive balls, he found Green's stumps via the Aussie's elbow, before ensuring it would be a match to forget for Travis Head, cleaning him up with a full one to complete a king pair.

Mitch Marsh (10) and Alex Carey (2) both came and went before Mitchell Starc made a quickfire 21 only to sky one into the offside to hand Joseph his fifth wicket.

Captain Pat Cummins then nicked one, also off the 24-year-old, to leave Australia 8/175 as Nathan Lyon came to the crease to join Smith. 

The duo survived to the end of a breathtaking first session, with the home side requiring 29 runs to win after the break while the Windies needed just two wickets to claim a historic victory. 

Upon the resumption of play, Lyon nicked one behind off Alzarri Joseph to bring Josh Hazlewood to the crease, while Smith nursed an injured right hand. 

Yet the batsman scooped Alzarri Joseph for six to cut the deficit to 14 runs and give the Aussies the sight of the win. 

However, Shamar Joseph returned to the attack and smashed Hazlewood's off stump over to spark wild celebrations as the West Indies claimed one of the biggest Test upsets ever over the reigning World Test Champions. 

"I wasn't even going to come to the ground today," the bowler revealed post-match. 

"But the doctor did something to my toe. I don't know what he did. But it worked. I just stuck to the basics. Stuck to the top of off.

"I feel like we win the entire series by winning this Test. Shout out to my teammates for their support. I cried for my five-wicket haul but I'm so happy now. I'm not even tired. I would have kept bowling."

West Indies captain reacts to historic Test win over Australia

"We won a Test match in Australia!" Kraigg Brathwaite exclaimed. 

"It does a lot for West Indies cricket. It means a lot. It's been a number of years since we've won a Test match here. But my message to the group is that this the beginning. It's amazing we enjoy this, but this has to continue.

"I'm extremely proud. I must say we had two words that inspired us in this Test match, Mr. Rodney Hogg said that we were 'pathetic and hopeless'. That was our inspiration.

"We wanted to show the world we're not pathetic. And I must ask him ask him, are these muscles big enough for him [flexes his biceps]."

West Indies' Test record in Australia

SERIES RESULT
1930/31 (5 Tests) Australia won 4-1
1951/52 (5 Tests) Australia won 4-1
1960/61 (5 Tests) Australia won 2-1
1968/79 (5 Tests) Australia won 3-1
1975/76 (6 Tests) Australia won 5-1
1979/80 (3 Tests) West Indies won 2-0
1981/82 (3 Tests) Series drawn 1-1
1984/85 (5 Tests) West Indies won 3-1
1988/89 (5 Tests) West Indies won 3-1
1992/93 (5 Tests) West Indies won 2-1
1996/97 (5 Tests) Australia won 3-2
2000/01 (5 Tests) Australia won 5-0
2005/06 (3 Tests) Australia won 3-0
2009/10 (3 Tests) Australia won 2-0
2015/16 (3 Tests) Australia won 2-0
2022 (2 Tests) Australia won 2-0
2024 (2 Tests) Series drawn 1-1

Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten Photo

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.