Steve Smith fails to impress in his first outing as Test opener for Australia

Listen to Story Australia batter Steve Smith failed to impress in his first ever outing as a Test opener. Smith opened for the first time in Test cricket during Australia’s match against the West Indies at the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday, January 17. Batting on Day 1 in their first Test against the West Indies, Smith was dismissed by debutant Shamar Joseph after scoring 12 runs off 26 balls.

Smith edged Joseph’s delivery outside the off stump, which carried to Justin Greaves at third slip. His dismissal came in the ninth over, leaving Australia reeling at 33 for 1. Interestingly, Smith was dismissed off the very first delivery of Joseph's Test career. FIRST BALL! Shamar Joseph gets Steve Smith with his first ball in Tests! | | — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) Smith took up the mantle of opening the batting for Australia in Tests following the retirement of David Warner this month.

The veteran left handed batter called time on his Test career following Australia's win over Pakistan at his home ground in Sydney on January 6. It was an impressive display by the Australian bowling unit, led by skipper Pat Cummins on Day 1. After winning the toss and putting the visitors to bat first, the Aussies bowled West Indies out for 188 runs on Day 1.

Cummins kicked off proceedings in Adelaide, by dismissing openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul in the 10 over before sending Kraigg Braithwaite back in the 14 over with a brilliant delivery that completely beat the West Indies skipper, hitting the top of his off stump. Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood then joined the party for Australia and ran through the West Indian middle order.

He cleaned up Alick Athnaze in the 24 over before dismissing Kaven Hodge to leave the visitors reeling at 98 for 4. Kirk McKenzie completed his half century before being beaten by the extra bounce off a Hazlewood delivery, edging it into the safe grasp of wicket keeper Alex Carey. In his very next over, Hazlewood sent Greaves back to the pavilion, reducing West Indies to 108 for 6.

With this spell, Hazlewood completed 250 wickets in Test cricket, becoming just the 11 Australian to achieve the feat. Cummins came back into the attack to dismiss wicket keeping batter Joshue de Silva and Alzarr Josepgh before Mitchell Starc picked the wicket of Gudakesh Motie. With the visitors at 133 for 9, debutant Shamar Joseph and Kemar Roach formed a 55 run stand for the last wicket to drag their side to 188 before Lyon dismissed Joseph for 36..