Australia’s Shaun Marsh, left, and Adam Voges run between wickets against the West Indies during their cricket test match in Hobart, Australia, Friday Dec. 11, 2015.
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– Voges 269 not out is the highest Test score by an Australian against the West Indies, breaking Doug Walters’ 242 made at the SCG in February 1969, and also the fourth-highest ever score against the West Indies (the highest is 337 by Pakistan’s Hanif Mohammad in January 1958).
By stumps on day one, Australia were a remarkable 3-438 after winning the toss – the most Test runs the Windies have conceded in a day.
While Australia rollicked along, they lost three wickets in a breezy first session of play, as openers Warner and Joe Burns set about helping themselves to the West Indian bowling attack.
A unsafe leg-side single – a direct hit would have seen captain Steve Smith run out – took Warner to a 40-ball half-century featuring 10 fours, five of them through the covers.
Another landmark quickly followed as Voges reached 150, with the partnership having passed 250 as the beleaguered West Indies used seven bowlers. Marsh then joined Voges on reaching three figures in the final session, with the fourth-wicket partnership bolted past 300 runs.
HOBART-West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach is not dwelling too much on his side’s embarrassing ten-wicket loss in their tour match in Brisbane last weekend, especially after being greeted with a green top at Bellerive Oval when the team arrived here Sunday.
To add to West Indies’ woes, skipper Jason Holder might find himself in trouble after only 50 overs were completed before the tea break. It was the third career centuries for each player, and Marsh’s first at an Australian ground.
That was in the last over before lunch, the tourists no doubt harbouring thoughts of running through the middle order which they had identified as the weakness in the Australian line-up.
Adam Voges (right) embraces teammate Shaun Marsh after scoring his double century.
West Indies are now 50/1 to complete a surprise turnaround and go 1-0 up.
Voges put the 23-year-old Barbadian in his place by clubbing him for four boundaries in one over just after lunch, a statement of intent which presaged Australia’s dominance of the rest of the day.
West Indies picked Warrican as their spin option ahead of Devendra Bishoo, the wrist spinner.
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“He’s played enough. He’s been bowling really well, he’s been bowling really well in the nets as well and he deserves an opportunity and I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes”, Smith said.
