Australia will want to overcome a recent below-average record of losing Test matches on day five by adopting a strategy of perseverance over panicky thinking against the West Indies.
With West Indies 3-192 at day’s end and chasing 498 to win, the hosts will need seven wickets to win back the Frank Worrell Trophy on the final day.
Australia struck late on Saturday when Nathan Lyon successfully caught Jermaine Blackwood at close range after only collecting two wickets in the first 59 overs of the Windies’ innings.
Australian teams have recently struggled to take advantage of favorable final-day placements.
Similar to India in 2021 at the same venue, England batted out the final day for a tie against Australia this year at the SCG.
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Even though Ben Stokes’ infamous fourth innings at Headingley in 2019 occurred on day four, it continues to be a very vivid memory for the majority of people. Additionally, on the final day of 2020–21, the Indians chased down 329 to win at the Gabba.
However, Australia can draw strength from victories over England in the final session in Adelaide last summer and Pakistan in the series finale in Lahore in March.
“The most important part about day five is just the process. You just have to stick to it,”
Marnus Labuschagne said
“And we did it amazingly in Pakistan. You just have to trust what you’re doing. Do the planning and prep and then you trust it.”
Marnus Labuschagne added
After spending time off the field on Saturday due to a thigh complaint, Pat Cummins could return for Australia’s second hour of the morning with Kraigg Brathwaite still unbeaten at 101.
On Saturday night, Brathwaite stated that his team had not given up on trying to win. And that they were prepared to evaluate the situation on Sunday depending on the support he and the middle order can provide.
With one end starting to stay low and Nathan Lyon finding some spin. The pitch is beginning to show some signs of becoming challenging to bat on.
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