Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh scored unbeaten centuries and combined for a 317-run partnership to pace Australia to a commanding 438-3 on the opening day of the first test against the West Indies on Thursday.
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The day had held such promise for the tourists after the opening trio of Joe Burns (33), David Warner (64) and captain Steve Smith (10) fell to leave Australia struggling somewhat on 121-3.
Voges reached the break unbeaten on 269, having scored his maiden test double century and overhauled the Bellerive Oval individual test record of 209 that Ricky Ponting set against Pakistan in 2010.
Only by two runs did the Bradman-Ponsford record survive, their 451-run effort against England at The Oval in 1934 still the greatest partnership in Australia’s Test history.
Holder, the West Indies skipper, rotated his bowlers continuously and used as many as seven bowlers, but none of them could bring him the desired result.
Warrican then had Smith caught by Jermaine Blackwood at first slip for 10.
West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican admits the tourists let their spirits drop in a dismal first day of their Test series against Australia, bemoaning the loss of Shannon Gabriel via injury as a further significant blow.
Australia have declared their first innings closed after a record partnership by Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh in the first Test against the West Indies in Hobart today.
“I thought we would have got some assistance with the new ball but it turned out to be a very good batting track and it showed with Marsh and Voges”, Warrican said.
Australia defeated the West Indies 2-0 in their last series played in the Caribbean earlier this year.
The breakthrough when it finally came was impressive, however, Gabriel summoning up a 147.2 kilometres per hour delivery which removed Burns’s middle stump.
Warrican, who picked two wickets for 111 runs rued the fact that West Indies were unable to take more wickets after the first session and allowed the Australian batsmen to get away with big scores.
The pair got the home side out of a spot of trouble after it lost three wickets in the morning session. Voges batted at a strike rate of more than 85.
Marsh’s half-century took 86 balls and only featured four boundaries, but he and Voges took their stand to 200 when the latter tucked Jason Holder into the leg side for a single in the 63rd over.
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“Tomorrow they will be looking to come at us so we have to be disciplined”. They have won just four of their last 20 Tests and last won a Test in Australia in 1997. In Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach they have two fast bowlers capable of exposing the fragile Australian middle order on these bouncy surfaces.
