There were emotional celebrations all around the Gabba as the West Indies pulled off the impossible, but some Australians created some unwanted history of their own.

Here's the five quick hits from day four of the Gabba Test.

1. Tears and hugs as West Indies make history

As pandemonium broke out at the Gabba, the West Indies' euphoric winning moment proved too much for some legends of the sport.

While Shamar Joseph was sprinting away in celebration, up in the ABC Sport commentary box Windies great Carl Hooper was reduced to tears, and had to take refuge in the back of the room.

"The last time I felt this good was the day I got married," Hooper said.

There were similar scenes in the Fox Cricket box, where a tearful Brian Lara embraced Adam Gilchrist in a warm hug as he enthused over a moment he might never have expected to see again.

Just how significant this win will be for West Indian cricket remains to be seen, but for the men and women who have devoted their lives to the team, moments like this make it all worthwhile.

2. Shamar back from injury with two-in-two

When a Mitchell Starc yorker detonated Shamer Joseph's toe, forcing him to retire hurt and not bowl on day three, it seemed the last the Australian public would see of the exciting Test rookie would be him limping off in pain.

But scans overnight revealed there was no break, so the 24-year-old was back.

It didn't seem that even the West Indies were ready for him — he initially took to the field wearing a teammate's shirt with the number taped up.

"I didn't [know he would be available], he just turned up on the field," Kavem Hodge said at the dinner break, seemingly confirming that view.

But once he had his number 70 shirt back, he didn't waste any time making his impact.

There was a degree of fortune in him bowling Cameron Green off his elbow in his second over of the day, but the next ball to dismiss Travis Head was a beauty.

Two-in-two. Suddenly the West Indies believed again, and by dinner he had put his team within reach of a famous and entirely unexpected victory.

3. Travis Head joins exclusive club

There is no fate worse for a batter in Test cricket than getting dismissed first ball in both innings.

It doesn't happen often — officially just 23 times in Test history.

But it happened to Travis Head, who was the second victim of Shamar Joseph, clean bowled by a beauty.

It capped a funny summer for Head in which he had three golden ducks and a rollicking century.

It's also his third straight golden duck at the Gabba in Test cricket, dating back to December 18, 2022 when he was dismissed twice in one day against South Africa, meaning his last four balls at the Brisbane ground have all been dismissals.

4. Steve Smith carries his bat

Steve Smith had scored 40 Test half-centuries heading into this Test match, but you get a sense his 41st was very important for him.

It was his first as an opening batter — he now has half-tons at every batting position from one to eight.

It is only his fourth innings since moving to the top of the order but, given the pressure he was under for this experimental move to pay off, you know he needed a result.

He got to his fifty off 92 balls, passing the milestone just as the wickets around him started tumbling, adding to its worth.

Smith also became the first Australian opener since David Warner in 2011 to carry his bat through an innings, another flip for his future in the role. 

5. Where was everyone?

An overnight drenching, absurdly humid conditions, the expectations of an Australian romp to victory and ticket prices.