AUS vs WI Test: Smith falls cheaply in opening debut but Australia nose ahead on day one

Steve Smith’s first outing as a test opener did not go according to plan but Australia still looked in control of the series opener against West Indies after bowling out the visitors for 188 at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday. Home captain Pat Cummins made the early inroads and Josh Hazlewood mowed down the West Indies middle order to bowl out the visitors in a little over two seasons.

Number three batter Kirk McKenzie (50) and debutant Shamar Joseph (36) offered some resistance but the touring batters looked largely lost against Australia’s quality fast bowling. Joseph then dismissed Smith for 12 with the first ball of his test career and bounced out Marnus Labuschagne but Australia finished day one on 59 2 and will fancy their chances of building a handy lead when play resumes on Thursday.

Joseph became the 23rd man to take a wicket with his first test delivery. Opener Usman Khawaja capitalised on an early reprieve to be batting on 30, while Cameron Green, occupying the number four slot vacated by Smith, was on six. “Their tail wagged and it was bit of work with the last wicket stand but as a bowling group it was fantastic,” Hazlewood said afterwards.

“The wicket was an interesting one, not much pace and bounce. “Hopefully a couple of boys can walk in and bat the day,” he said of their approach to Thursday. West Indies have arrived with a depleted squad for a two match series Down Under, where they have not won a test since 1997, and it did not take long for world champions Australia to seize control of the contest.

Cummins (4 41) elected to field after winning the toss and led by example removing both the openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul (six) perishing in the gully while West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (13) lost his off stump. West Indies went to lunch at 64 3 after Alick Athanaze (13)was bowled offering no shot to an incoming delivery to give Hazlewood (4 44) his 250th test wicket.

McKenzie, playing his second test, offered some resistance but West Indies slumped to 133 9 losing six wickets for 35 runs and risking a collapse inside two sessions. That they did not was due largely to Joseph, one of the three West Indies players making their test debut in the match, who was hit on the helmet by a Mitchell Starc delivery early in his knock.

The number 11 batter decided to counter attack and added 55 runs with Kemar Roach, who made 17 not out, in what turned out to be the biggest partnership in the visitors’ innings. When Australia came out to bat, Khawaja, then on three, got a reprieve when he edged Alzarri Joseph but wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva floored a regulation catch.

Smith, who has replaced the retired David Warner at the top of the batting order, was not so lucky. The right hander edged Shamar Joseph’s first delivery to third slip and debutant Justin Greaves made no mistake taking the low, sharp catch. West Indies are without their best all rounders Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers with the duo having opted to play in lucrative Twenty20 leagues.

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