“West Indies lacked sharpness and fitness in the Perth Test” – Ian Healy believes WI is not able to withstand the Australian attack in Adelaide

Australia have taken an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-Test series after winning the first Test by 164 runs.

The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first, and they posted a huge score of 598/4 in the first innings. West Indies first innings was restricted to 283 runs, and Australia, who played the second innings, decided to suspend their innings when they scored 182 runs with the loss of two wickets.

Chasing a target of 498 runs, the visitors scored only 333 runs in the second innings. Accordingly, The hosts won the first test match by 164 runs.

West Indies lacked sharpness and fitness in the Perth Test, says Australia’s legendary wicketkeeper-batsman Ian Healy. He believes they will not be able to withstand the Australian attack in Adelaide and are likely to collapse as they lack “sharpness” and “fitness”.

Although the front line of the team, led by Kraigg Brathwaite, played well, their bowling was off-colour and managed to take just 6 wickets in the opening Test, with Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith punishing the attack.

“They’re saying it was a dogged performance by the West Indies…I’d agree with that, their top order was quite dogged against our bowling onslaughts, but I don’t think they had much else.”

“I think they lacked sharpness and they lacked fitness. They’ve got to get a lot better. My suspicions are they might collapse in Adelaide.”

The former wicketkeeper heaped praise on Labuschagne and Smith, declaring their efforts the best of their careers.

“Those first innings knocks by Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith were some of the best batting I’ve seen both of them do and that’s saying something. Travis Head was aggressive. It was a good hit out. They’re going to need to be that good under pressure. They did it when the pressure wasn’t really on, but under pressure against South Africa they should be ready.,”

“Very good by the boys. I really liked their mannerisms. They were very appreciative to the crowd that showed up.”