Such is the list of all-time Test record partnerships for Australia after Voges and Marsh put on 449 for the fourth wicket against an insipid West Indies in Hobart.
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The Windies are underdogs heading into Thursday’s opening Test in Hobart after suffering an embarrassing 10-wicket loss to a Cricket Australia (CA) XI last week.
Voges slammed the fastest century for Australia in Hobart, his ton coming off 100 balls and eclipsing another West Australian Adam Gilchrist’s hundred off 110 balls against Pakistan in 1999.
There are only two instances when a batsman has scored more than Voges’ unbeaten 174 in Tests in Hobart.
Warrican, playing his second test after getting the nod over leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, altered the momentum of the match, however, to expose an Australian middle order which West Indies have identified as a weakness.
But he faces a massive challenge to provide his team with a competitive score against an Australian team eyeing off consecutive three-day Test victories.
Fellow Western Australian player Marsh made 97 in the third session to finish the day on 139 not out as the frustrated West Indies bowlers failed to take a wicket after lunch. Voges batted at a strike rate of more than 85.
They overtook the fourth-wicket Test record of 437 by Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene (240) and Thilan Samaraweera (231) against Pakistan at Karachi in the 2008-09 season.
Marsh’s younger brother Mitchell has been short of runs batting at No. 6 this summer, but has added plenty of value with the ball and coach Darren Lehmann’s oft-stated desire to include a fifth bowling option seemingly prevents an allrounder from slipping out of the side.
James Pattinson returns for his first Test in 18 months and Shaun Marsh is hoping to build on his encouraging performance in Adelaide.
“I think it’s hard when they have a good partnership to keep your head up”.
The Australians pummelled the Caribbean side’s bowling attack at nearly five runs per over, which drew anger on many pundits in the lead-up to the opening day’s play.
“I’m just wondering whether we can see Burns sliding out and Marsh staying in”.
But Burns was bowled in the next over as a Gabriel delivery came back in off the seam to get between bat and pad.
The veteran batsman didn’t stop there and continued to punish the West Indian bowlers as he walked out unbeaten at tea, after having completed his third Test hundred off exactly a hundred balls.
“I started a little bit slow, but once I got into my rhythm I felt really good out there and I think Vogesy really helped with that”, Marsh said. “If we can get some early wickets with the new ball, we can get guys like Shaun Marsh, who are trying to make their way back into the side, and put them under some pressure to score”.
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“He was going really well and scoring runs freely and sort of got me going as well”.
