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The Windies bowlers had few answers at the Bellerive Oval, as Australia’s batsmen plundered the runs from the get-go, and Voges recording 174 not out at the close, the highest score by an Aussie number four on day one of a Test.
It is the most runs conceded by a West Indies Test side in a day, and the performance will have given former greats Phil Simmons, Curtly Ambrose and Richie Richardson – now part of the coaching set-up – plenty of headaches.
On the other hand, West Indies had a contrasting run in the series against Sri Lanka and lost the Test series.
Voges and Marsh also own the record for highest fourth-wicket stand by Australia in Tests.
There wasn’t much for the visitors to celebrate.
Voges played himself in before hitting four fours in a Warrican over.
Warner and Joe Burns scored 75 in the opening hour before the latter was bowled between bat and pad by Shannon Gabriel for 33.
The West Indies were crushed by a CA XI devoid of first-class experience in Brisbane last week, prompting bookmakers to open Australia at the shortest odds ever to win a Test series.
Marsh, in scoring his third Test century and first at home also posed a dilemma for selectors about whether he will make way for the imminent return of Usman Khawaja from a hamstring injury. Either way it’s an intriguing subplot, and we need to embrace those with every fibre of our being because, even after one day, the main plot is a foregone conclusion.
It was all the more impressive for the fact that both batsmen were over 30, had played only 26 tests between them, and were under pressure for their places in the side. West Indies are now 50/1 to complete a surprise turnaround and go 1-0 up.
Left-arm orthodox spinner Jomel Warrican will play his second test after getting the nod over leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo.
We’re not going to worry about what has been said about us not being a good team or not going to compete, games being over in three days and all that kind of stuff.
“If we’re going to struggle against an Under-19 team, how do we expect to compete against a strong Australian line-up?” The fast bowling department, in particular, has been chopped and changed far too often for their liking.
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West Indies captain Jason Holder has backed his fast bowlers to thrive in the relative cool of Tasmania and exploit what he perceives as Australia’s batting weaknesses when the first Test gets underway on Thursday.
