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A slow and sluggish pitch at the Windsor Park didn’t make for attractive cricket but Australia did most things right on the opening day of this first Test in Dominica against the West Indies. You can follow the live scores and blog of the second day of this opening Test from 12am AEST (Friday).
West Indies looked to have won an important toss and gotten themselves into a position of relative strength. The runs were flowing, they were batting at four an over and having lost just a wicket, it looked like it was going to be a long day in the field for the visitors.
The bowling rust came off in the second hour of the first session and aided by some extremely poor strokeplay, West Indies had completely capitulated by the time it was tea.
For 1/63 at one stage, West Indies had been bowled out for 148, with Shai Hope’s 36 being their best effort.
What had changed in the ensuing time was the discipline that Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc brought with them in their later spells after an underwhelming first session with the ball. Both sprayed a lot of balls wide across them or down the leg-side but the learning was quick enough and the West Indies batsmen failed to adapt.
Josh Hazlewood was the obvious pick of the Aussie bowlers, the man responsible in not only picking up three wickets for them but also slowing the scoring down. And he achieved that with his stubborn focus on bowling that channel outside the off-stump and allowing the pitch to bail him out with any movement.
The ball lost swing early in the innings but it did seam around off the surface for Hazlewood and the West Indies batsmen came a distant second-best.
That the pitch was not easy to bat on was visible even when Australia started their innings.
David Warner hit a crisp boundary but only managed to get himself a leading edge soon after while Shaun Marsh’s 53-ball start gave him 19 runs before he was dismissed in a familiar manner – an outside edge that went straight to the first slip.
Captain Michael Clarke’s attempt to show positive intent saw him score 18 from 28 but his inability to pierce the off-side field against the leg-spin of Devendra Bishoo led to his ultimate dismissal.
Smith’s was a strange innings. If one hadn’t known what he had done all summer before this, one would have almost criticised him for his inability to get the ball away, or even rotate strike. West Indies did well to not bowl to his strengths, Smith did well by hanging in there for 67 balls to make his unbeaten 17.
The danger for West Indies is simple – he’s still there. And till such time as when he’s sent back, they will need to focus on avoiding getting flustered bowling at him.
New coach Phil Simmons also needs to instill that belief in West Indies they can make a fightback in this game. Adam Voges is on his debut, Shane Watson hasn’t been at his best in red-ball cricket for some months and an early couple of wickets could leave their lower-order exposed.
What also goes in West Indies’ favour is the scoring isn’t easy, and the outfield is one of the slowest you would find in the world. Run-making will be a graft if West Indies can bowl reasonable lines and lengths and that could inject some more excitement into this game.
If Australia run away with a lead of even 150, West Indies could find it really tough making a comeback into the Test – such is the nature of the wicket. And that’s exactly what they will be aiming through Smith and co.
Their tactic could revolve around Smith batting out the innings, steadily even if slowly. The others will look to score at quicker rates, remain positive and not allow the West Indian bowlers to settle down.
An interesting period of Test cricket beckons on the second day at Roseau.
Follow the live scores and blog of this West Indies v Australia 1st Test match from midnight AEST on Friday and post your comments in the section below.
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