Perth, Australia: Marnus Labuschagne cracked a masterful unbeaten 154 whereas Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith hit 50s as a dominant Australia took management of the opening Take a look at in opposition to the West Indies at Perth Stadium on Wednesday.
The hosts reached an ominous 293-2 at stumps on day one following captain Pat Cummins’ choice to bat in scorching and dry circumstances.
The whole was constructed off the again of a 142-run stand between Labuschagne and Khawaja, who got here collectively after David Warner was out for 5, then an unbeaten 142 with Smith.
A centered Labuschagne, who survived possibilities on 75 and 137, introduced up his eighth century in his twenty ninth Take a look at and with the in-form Smith unbeaten on 59 the omens are usually not good for the guests, who’ve didn’t win a Take a look at in Australia for 25 years.
“While you end the day at round 300 for two, you are feeling good. It was good to construct partnerships all through the day,” mentioned Labuschagne.
“Scoring a Take a look at hundred any time is superb, so to have the ability to do it within the first Take a look at of the summer season can hopefully set you up for this sport, and likewise the summer season.
“It was all concerning the course of, construct your complete sport round it and don’t fear about the rest,” he added.
The West Indies bowled with loads of self-discipline in entrance of simply 10,929 spectators, however the possibilities had been few and much between.
After getting the early wicket of Warner for 5, they needed to toil for hours within the warmth to bag one other, with Khawaja compiling 65 earlier than edging Kyle Mayers to wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva simply earlier than lunch.
“We bowled nicely in spurts, however we didn’t get the breaks,” mentioned West Indies coach Phil Simmons.
“We’ll look to get a few wickets early tomorrow and attempt to peg them again that manner. Even when they get 450 we’re nonetheless in it as a result of I feel the wicket appears to be like like it could get higher.”
Labuschagne and Khawaja got here collectively after Warner fell to younger paceman Jayden Seales, and hardly put a foot flawed.
They needed to work laborious within the opening session of the primary Take a look at between the edges for practically seven years, reaching 72-1 at lunch.
However they accelerated after the break with Labuschagne citing his 50 with a 3 off Jason Holder.
A faultless Khawaja, who has been a rock on the high of the order this 12 months, quickly adopted, cracking spinner Roston Chase for 4 after which a single to succeed in his 18th half-century in his 52nd Take a look at.
Khawaja had scored 4 Take a look at centuries and reached the 90s twice within the final 12 months, with extra glory beckoning.
However he was undone by a stupendous supply from Mayers, which trimmed the surface fringe of his bat and was a simple take for Da Silva.
Undeterred, Labuschagne powered to 3 figures from 192 balls, hitting the milestone along with his thirteenth boundary.
Smith has reverted to a extra orthodox batting model which noticed him rating 94 and an unbeaten 80 in Australia’s latest one-day collection in opposition to England, and he once more appeared in good nick.
The 33-year-old was untroubled as he swept to a thirty seventh Take a look at 50, eyeing one other century to attract degree with the nice Donald Bradman on 29.
Sporting black armbands to mourn former West Indies wicketkeeper David Murray, who died final week, the guests stored Warner and Khawaja in test within the opening overs.
Warner’s first attacking shot noticed Seales pulled for a boundary within the fourth over.
However the left-hander’s aggression value him subsequent ball as tried to drive a wider supply solely to tug it again onto his stumps.
The West Indies suffered a blow earlier than the match with allrounder Raymon Reifer dominated out after selecting up a groin damage.
They handed a debut to batsman Tagenarine Chanderpaul, the son of retired nice Shivnarine.
Prime-ranked Australia made only one change from their final Take a look at in opposition to Sri Lanka in July, with speedster Josh Hazlewood in for spinner Mitchell Swepson.