In the 100th Test of his red-ball cricket career, Mitchell Starc deadly inswingers and yorkers reduced West Indies to the second-lowest total ever in Test cricket as Australia bowled out West Indies for just 27 runs. Player of the Match, Starc fit himself in the frame as a distinguished pacer to propel Australia sealing a commanding 176-run victory and complete a 3-0 series sweep at Sabina Park, Jamaica.
Besides the Caribbean being lucky to register the lowest Test score, this Test match will be remembered for many reasons, including Starc’s 400th wicket in his 100th Test match, the fastest five-wicket haul in Test by Starc and a special hat-trick by Scott Boland.
The third day at Sabina Park witnessed Starc marking the milestone in style, claiming 6 for 9, including three wickets in his first over and the fastest five-wicket haul ever in men’s Tests, achieved in only 15 deliveries. He also became only the fourth Australian to reach 400 Test wickets, joining legends Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, and Nathan Lyon.
After Australia set a target of 204, Starc struck with the very first ball, removing John Campbell with a perfect outswinger. Four balls later, he troubled Kevlon Anderson with lbw before dismantling Brandon King’s stumps, leaving West Indies in jitters at 0 for 3. When Starc added the scalps of Mikyle Louis and Shai Hope, the scoreboard staggered to 5 for 4, and the collapse showed no sign of abating.
Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland then joined the rally of dismissals. Boland delivered a memorable spell after Tea, collecting a hat-trick by dismissing Justin Greaves, Shamar Joseph, and Jomel Warrican in consecutive deliveries—his first in Tests and the 10th ever by an Australian.
A single run from a misfield narrowly prevented the West Indies from matching New Zealand’s infamous record of 26 all out in 1955. Starc fittingly ended the innings by bowling Jayden Seales to close out the rout in just 14.3 overs.
Earlier in the day, Australia themselves had been in strife, resuming on 99 for 6 in their second innings. Alzarri Joseph (5 for 27) and Shamar Joseph (4 for 34) combined for nine wickets to dismiss the visitors for 121, but it ultimately didn’t matter as West Indies’ batting disintegrated spectacularly.
Lowest Totals in Test History
| Team | Score | Against | Venue | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 26 | England | Auckland | 1954/55 |
| West Indies | 27 | Australia | Kingston | 2025 |
| South Africa | 30 | England | Gqeberha | 1895/96 |
| South Africa | 30 | England | Birmingham | 1924 |
| South Africa | 35 | England | Cape Town | 1898/99 |
| South Africa | 36 | Australia | Melbourne | 1931/32 |
| Australia | 36 | England | Birmingham | 1902 |
| India | 36 | Australia | Adelaide | 2020/21 |
Additional Records tumbled:
- Seven ducks in West Indies’ innings—the most in any Test innings.
- The lowest aggregate (6 runs) by a top six in Test history.
- Starc’s career-best figures of 6 for 9 were the best by any bowler in their 100th Test.
With this crushing win, Australia retained the Frank Worrell Trophy, underscoring their dominance in the Caribbean and reaffirming Starc’s reputation as a pink-ball master, now with 81 wickets at 17.08 in day-night Tests.
