Grenada braces for Test return as Australia aim to seal series

Mash it. It's an expression you hear a lot around Grenada. Loosely it stands for having a party or a rave or simply having a blast. They talk a lot around here about how the entire island was Mashing it for days together when Kirani James, their biggest sporting superstar ever, went on to win a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. The biggest moment in history for the spice island, to have an Olympic champion amongst a population of 115,000 people.

Kirani, the 400 m sprint king, has been on every Grenadian's lips ever since. Anderson Peters' bronze at the last Olympics in Paris is the only other time the island has made its presence felt on the global stage. But despite their mad love for the sport, there's never quite been a Mash Up for cricket that anyone can really point to.

Firstly, it doesn't help that the island is among the least visited for international cricket, having hosted only 4 Tests and 22 ODIs since being opened in 1999. Along with the fact that Grenada hasn't produced too many significant cricket names who have gone on to make a name for themselves for the West Indies. The handful that have represented the region though are honoured at the National Stadium in the capital of St George's, with Junior Murray and Rawl Lewis sharing a stand while former opener Devon Smith has the pavilion named after him. The ageless T20 globetrotter, Andre Fletcher, aptly named the Spiceman, meanwhile is still waiting his turn.

That also means that the return of Test cricket to this scenic island is being treated as a monumental occasion with most locals talking it up as a sporting Mash Up. Not that there are too many hoardings or boards announcing the Test anywhere to be found except the national stadium itself, which shares a compound with the aptly named Kirani James National Athletic Stadium-and where Steve Smith deposited a few deliveries during an aggressive stint in the net on Wednesday. From Roston Chase onwards, there's a belief around here that the Grenadians will turn up in their numbers to show their love for Test cricket, which they've been starved off for so long.

Speaking of Smith, he was the primary focus in Australia's two training sessions at the National Stadium. Though he didn't look to be in much discomfort while holding the bat and using it with the splint on his still recovering right little finger, there was uncertainty over where Smith would field. That lingered through Wednesday as he continued to only take catches where the ball was lobbed at him from close distances. But for his batting form alone, it was a no-brainer that the Australians would bring their batting maestro right back in for the second Test.

Like Smith though, none of the Aussies in the current squad have made the trip to Grenada before, even if the first-ever international match here did involve an Australian team back in 1999. And along with getting used to the uniqueness of the conditions at the National Stadium, the visitors are also trying their best to learn more about this unique nation.

Cummins spoke about how lovely the people have been here, including the chef at his hotel talking about how he cooked fish for Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden back in 2007, when they were part of Australia's World Cup winning team.

And they'll be saying the same about having hosted Cummins and the current crop of Australian players in years to come, as the former world Test champions look to seal the Frank Worrell Trophy over the next five days and establish their own Mash Up.

When: West Indies v Australia, July 3-7, 2025, 10:00 hrs Local Time, 12:00 AEST (July 4), 19.30 hrs IST

Where: Grenada National Stadium, St George's, Grenada

What to expect: Considering the National Stadium is nestled between two mounts, each of which are resplendent with lush green rainforests, the surface in the middle of the ground stands out even more starkly. For, it looks bone dry, save for a smattering of green grass just rolled in. With the sun baking down on it already, and expected to do so even more over the next few days, it's expected to dry up further and then start to break up late in the piece with the cracks coming into play. Chances are that this Test might not be played on fast forward like last week and might be more of a slow burn.

Team News

West Indies

There's been an uneasy cloud over the West Indian team since the last Test with allegations of sexual assault surrounding one of their players doing the rounds in the media, firstly around the Caribbean and now around the world. Cricket West Indies made it a point to release a statement before Chase's press conference via a spokesperson who said, "We are aware of the information that is circulating on social media and other media channels. However, Cricket West Indies has not received any communication or official information and therefore are not in a position to comment at this time." It means that they are likely to stick with the same playing XI with the outside chance of a late call-up for Anderson Phillip in place of Jomel Warrican to play an extra seamer.

Probable XI:Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Brandon King, Roston Chase (c), Shai Hope (wk), Justin Greaves, Alzarri Joseph, Jomel Warrican/Anderson Phillip, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales

Australia

Once Smith was fit to come back, there was no question of Australia slotting him right back in at No 4 with Josh Inglis missing out.

Playing XI:Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood