A Test match that was thought to be over before it had even begun with impending torrential rain threatening Brisbane, turned into one of the most exciting matches on these shores for some time.
A see-saw contest that has seen both Australia and West Indies dominate for large chunks is now set to go into day three.
Follow all the events live here.
Why does a Spencer Johnson trunk cost $2,500?
Pulling the stump out of the ground in the euphoria of victory to present it as a souvenir has been a cricket tradition for more than 50 years.
But now players will have to pay if they want to take home a souvenir.
Brisbane Heat hero Spencer Johnson went to grab a log from midfield at the SCG to remember his man of the match performance in Wednesday's final, but was stopped by an official wearing a Sixers cap.
Johnson has been told the new illuminated Zings stumps cost $2500 apiece and have been set up at Cricket NSW, with the expectation that they will be returned as a complete set.
The speedster graciously accepted the drawing amidst his emotional celebrations on the field, but was so keen to get the souvenir to send straight to the billiard room, he asked if he could buy one instead.
Sources say the cricket authorities and Johnson are now trying to figure out how to work out the bills to ensure the Heat star can – finally and with some paperwork – get his hands on that stump.
Women's star Megan Shutt faced exactly the same problem after the WBBL final, when organizers had to go and find her to ask for the stump back after she instinctively demanded it off the turf in the moments following the Adelaide Strikers' victorious win.
Johnson is certainly eyeing a future in which he may need more space on the mantelpiece, with Ricky Ponting declaring that Australian cricket should line up him as left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc's successor in the Test side.
The creators of the stumps hope there will be room for players to keep the stumps as souvenirs in the future, and have called for patience as the technology continues to develop.
It's a similar message when it comes to asking for understanding when it comes to the bizarre – and potentially game-changing – moment in the second Test in Brisbane, when Alex Carey's right-hander spun and did not budge when clipped by a delivery from West Indian quick Shamar Yousuf.
If Carey had been out at that stage, Australia would have been 6-72 and in crisis. Instead, with a lucky break, Carey fired a quickfire 65 and put the home team back in the Test.
Neil Maxwell of Electra Stumps said the positive aspects of using stumps as a hub for technological advancement in the game are endless, but he admits the ICC needs to work with innovators to establish standards for manufacturing stumps to ensure the fabric of the game is not affected.
The stumps used in Brisbane for the Test – and the Big Bash final – are Zings and a rival company to Electra, but Maxwell said patience was needed, recognizing that technological developments would benefit the game in the long term. .
For example, future stumps will contain cameras, radars and various sensors which will enhance the tools of broadcasters, spectators, spectators on the ground and perhaps referees in the decision-making process.
“It's part of the evolution of the product, otherwise we'd still be playing with curved rackets and not the middle torso,” Maxwell said.
“For these innovations to take place, we have to use new technologies and materials available for the game and the sport. The main thing is that in any match, in any match, the situation is the same for both teams.
“New materials are being used to provide a more innovative and sophisticated game.
“We have to find a healthy balance… There has to be uniform standards that the trunks have to work on.
“Tree trunks will become the control center for what happens on Earth very soon. We have pieces of technology that will take us to another level… so there will be an evolution.”
“The ICC, in its wisdom, must set standards for this.”
The wind exposes Smith's flaws against the new ball
– Daniel Cherney
Conqueror Steve Smith at the Gabba has revealed the former Australia captain's weakness against the new ball, confirming that the dismissal of the opener on day two in Brisbane fell into a trap.
West Indies veteran Kemar Roach continued Smith's poor start to his career at the top of the order in Test cricket, trapping the all-time great for six in Australia's first over after Smith missed a straight delivery after it moved to the outside off. . -side.
It followed Smith's scores of 12 and 11 not out in the first Test against the Windies. Smith's dismissal in Adelaide also came as a result of his outside move when he beat debutant Shamar Joseph.
When asked after the second day at the Gabba whether Smith's sacking was a pre-plan, Roach said it was.
“It was an idea, it was an idea. He's obviously a quality batsman,” Roach said.
“But obviously you see how he bats, moves away and with the new ball you give yourself a better chance. So I backed myself to get him out today and it happened very lucky for me.”
Smith volunteered to move up from fourth to replace the retiring David Warner at the top of the order, allowing Cameron Green to return to eleventh. Green hasn't set the world on fire since his second comeback.
Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey backed Smith to find form.
“Yes, he's fine… he likes to think, he likes to talk about batting, he likes the chance to get out early and he's been dismissed twice as an opener now, and he'll be dismissed a lot as an opener,” Carey said.
“You know, he's one of the best batsmen in the world and he'll find a way to score hundreds of goals for his country. He's done that in really difficult situations before. So, from our point of view, I think the group is not concerned at all. I think he played well in the nets. He's done well in the nets. He got the ball today and that went a long way.
