Australia sinks to historic loss against West Indies but Steve Smith's return to form a welcome boost

Steve Smith has fallen agonisingly short of single-handedly dragging Australia to victory against the West Indies as he was left stranded on 91 during his side's shock loss to the West Indies. 

Since becoming the late story of the summer when he took over from David Warner at the top of the order, Smith almost managed to strike his first meaningful blow in his second Test match as an opener before a seven-wicket haul from Shamar Joseph settled the contest. 

Australia sinks to historic loss but Steve Smith's return to form a welcome boost

Smith’s classy knock nearly proved pivotal in Brisbane yet in the end he couldn't spare Australia's blushes as the tourists rolled to their first win in the host's backyard since 1997. 

MORE: West Indies defeats Australia by eight runs in historic Gabba upset

It also marked the first time the Aussies had tasted defeat in pink-ball Tests, with their winning run stopped dead in its tracks at 11. 

Despite the shock loss, Smith made a welcome return to form after he endured three tough prior innings in the series, which had many questioning his selection to partner Usman Khawaja.

"I don't think we're surprised," Pat Cummins said post-match when asked about Smith's efforts which went in vain. 

"We've seen it for 15 years from Smithy. He was fantastic. Almost dragged us over the line single-handedly at the end."

Last week, Smith was dismissed by Joseph’s first delivery in Test cricket for 12 before making an unbeaten 11 during Australia’s small run chase in the opening match of the series.

"I just need to be a little bit more disciplined," Smith said entering into the final Test of the Aussie summer.  

"I have had a couple of nice balls that have just gone away from me but didn't look like they were going away from me [and] have drawn me in.

“I think that is one of the big parts of how I have played throughout my career. I have been pretty disciplined outside off stump. When I am disciplined and leaving well there, then I am batting well."

Throughout the summer, Smith hasn’t looked in sync at the crease with his previous top score of 50 coming in the second Test against Pakistan.

This barren run, which also took in scores of 31, 45, 26, 38 and 4 not out had led to Smith throwing his hat into the ring to replace Warner.

Smith spoke of how he wanted a new challenge – a means to reinvigorate his career in the red-ball arena after well over a decade plundering runs in Ranchi all the way to The Oval in London.

Yet the experiment appeared as though it was doomed for failure ahead of Australia’s trips to New Zealand and India, when he was removed for six in the first over of the first innings.

MORE: Steve Smith stats reveal home discomforts for new opener as average drops to seven-year low

But after being set a total of 216 runs to win, Smith got to work knocking down the runs as the rest of his teammates fell all around him at The Gabba.

A Joseph pair firstly split up Smith’s promising partnership alongside Cameron Green, who had taken Smith’s place down the order upon his much talked about return to the team.

The West Australian appeared as if he would combine with Smith to run down the target in Brisbane but with both men battling into the 40s, Joseph bowled the allrounder through the gate to bring Travis Head to the crease.

The hero in Adelaide has endured an entirely different experience at The Gabba as he became Joseph’s second victim in a row, departing for a king pair with the Aussies suddenly wobbling at 4/113.

And the West Indies’ new star wasn’t done there either with his off-stump yorker to Head followed shortly afterwards by a peach of a delivery that straightened up Mitch Marsh with an edge flying straight to second slip.

Alex Carey soon trailed him back to the pavilion as the man who was previously in doubt to see out the match after copping a toe injury tore into the hosts to produce a magic spell with figures of 4/23.

If it wasn’t clear already at this point, it most certainly was after Joseph’s venomous burst that the game now rested on Smith and the youngster.

Mitch Starc blasted a quick-fire 21 alongside Smith to cut the deficit beneath 50 runs but the paceman was sent packing like all those before him by Joseph who claimed his second successive five-wicket haul in Test matches.

In a stunning turn of events which flipped the Test match on its head, Joseph bowled for 10 straight overs to scalp six wickets for 60 runs as the two teams headed back to the sheds after a scarcely believable first session. 

The tourists needed just two more wickets to claim their first win in Australia in close to three decades, while the Aussies required 29 runs to cap a perfect summer in front of their home fans. 

However, Shamar Joseph took the game into his own hands to skittle Josh Hazlewood after Lyon had been dismissed in the first over back after the break to spark jubilant scenes amongst the tourists. 

Australia next Test match fixtures

"We've all played enough cricket to know this game humbles you pretty quickly even if you think you're on top of the world," Cummins said. 

"You start from 0 for 0 at each game. I thought West Indies were fantastic. They outplayed us this week. Sometimes you always learn the lessons the hard way.

"Our Test group get about a month off before we go over to New Zealand [for a two-match Test series]. Any away tour is going to be tough but we're looking forward to that one."