Australia vs West Indies, 1st Test, Day 1 Highlights: Marnus Labuschagne Stars As Australia Dominate West Indies
Australia vs West Indies, 1st Test, Day 1 Highlights: Marnus Labuschagne starred with a 154 not out as Australia posted 293 for 2 on the first day of the first Test against West Indies at the Perth Stadium.
Australia vs West Indies, 1st Test, Day 1 Highlights: Marnus Labuschagne starred with a 154 not out as Australia posted 293 for 2 on the first day of the first Test against West Indies at the Perth Stadium. David Warner (5) fell early to Jayden Seales after Australia skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bat first against the guests. Usman Khawaja and Labuschagne then stitched a 142-run stand between them for the second wicket before Kyle Mayers dismissed the former for 65. Labuschagne then joined hands with Steve Smith (59 not out) to add unbeaten 142 runs for the third wicket. (SCORECARD)
Australia Playing XI: Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
West Indies Playing XI: Kraigg Brathwaite(c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Nkrumah Bonner, Jermaine Blackwood, Roston Chase, Kyle Mayers, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva(w), Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales
Australia Cricket Team
West Indies Cricket Team
Pat Cummins
David Warner
AUS vs WI, 1st Test, Day 1 Live
We are back! The umpires are out in the middle and so are the Australian players. There are 25 overs left in the Day as the Windies openers, skipper Kraigg Brathwaite and debutant Tagenarine Chanderpaul walk out to the middle. Mitchell Starc has been handed the new ball and is raring to go. There are three slips and a gully in place. Let's play...
An update on the pitch from Brendon Julian before the West Indian reply. He says that West Indies will opt for the heavy roller which will be used for seven minutes. He adds that the pitch will be nice and hard but there will be something for the Aussie quicks. It will depend on making the Windies batters play at more deliveries.
... SECOND INNINGS ...
West Indies will be mightily relieved that they don't have to toil further in the field but they will be aware of the incoming threat as well. None of the bowlers proved to be effective for them and they were simply inconsistent with their lines and lengths. Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite who is a part-time off-spinner probably troubled the Aussie batters the most and even got a couple of in-form batters out. The Windies openers will have a big role to play when they come out to bat. Will we see the visitors emulating the hosts with the bat? Or will the Aussie pace attack derail the Windies batting line up? Find out as the Windies reply is up next.
Right then, heartbreak right in the end for Travis Head and Pat Cummins has finally decided to declare with the score being 598/4. It has been just a cakewalk for the hosts on Day 2 as more than 300 runs were scored in a little over two sessions and they lost just a couple of wickets as well. It was Marnus Labuschagne who brought up his second double-ton in Test cricket in the first session and then after he got out, the pair of Steven Smith and Travis Head added on 196 runs and the former notched up a classy double-century as well but Head ended up a run short of what would have been a stellar hundred. They will now be hoping that their bowlers continue the good work.
OUT! CHOPPED ON! Oh, tragedy here for Travis Head! He is gone on 99 and Australia have declared. A shortish delivery by Kraigg Brathwaite that is pushed quicker as well and around off. Head tries to late-cut it but gets an inside edge that goes onto knock over the stumps. He would be disappointed but it has been a superb knock from the South Australian. Australia declare at 598/4!
Gets to his double-hundred now! What a fantastic flawless knock this has been! Takes off his helmet and soaks in the applause from his teammates and this healthy crowd here at the Optus Stadium. A shortish delivery, around off. Smith chops it to backward point and takes a single that takes him to his fourth double-hundred in Test cricket.
A flatter delivery on middle. Smith works it to mid-wicket and fails to find the gap.
Tossed up, on middle. Head shimmies down the track and knocks it to long on for a single.
Smith calls for the second run straightaway and gets two! Touch shorter and around off. Smith waits for it and just works it towards wide of long on for a couple. Smith moves to 199!
Tossed up, on off. Head drives it to long off for a single.
Fires it full and down the leg side. Head clips it to short fine leg and Smith looks for a single but is sent back.
Fires it quicker and outside off. Smith cuts it to deep point for an easy single again. This is just poor bowling, Windies are making way too easy for these Australian batters.
Short and outside off. Head cuts it to sweeper cover for a single.
Touch shorter and outside off. Smith cuts it to backward point for a single.
It seems like the declaration is coming soon. A few of the Australian players are seen standing by around the boundary ropes and the wait is probably for Smith and Head who are both nearing their milestones.
Angles it on the pads and it is bit quicker. Smith works it to square leg for a single.
On the shorter side, on off. Smith just lifts it over the bowler's head with a straight blade and comes back for the second run.
A fuller delivery, around off. Head drives it to sweeper cover for a single.
On the shorter side and angling into middle. Head goes deep in his crease and knocks it in the gap towards deep mid-wicket for a couple.