Run machine Marnus Labuschagne belted a 3rd successive Test century and Travis Head additionally made a ton Thursday as Australia seized management on day one of many pink-ball second Test towards an injury-hit West Indies. Consistent quantity three Labuschagne smacked 204 then 104 not out on the first Test in Perth to overhaul England’s Joe Root this week because the world’s top-ranked Test batsman. And he carried that type to Adelaide with a affected person unbeaten 120 to once more torment the Caribbean staff, because the hosts amassed 330-3 by stumps.
The chanceless Head was not out 114, relieved at changing to a few figures after he was out for 99 within the first Test.
The guests, who’re lacking three first-choice bowlers, loved some success on a flat observe that supplied little for the quick bowlers, eradicating David Warner (21), Usman Khawaja (62), and captain Steve Smith for a duck.
Khawaja surpassed 1,000 Test runs for the 12 months in his knock, changing into solely the third man in 2022 to hit the landmark after Root and fellow Englishman Jonny Bairstow, who’ve each performed extra matches.
He departed lbw to debutant Devon Thomas, who earned his first Test wicket.
Like Labuschagne, Smith smacked 200 in Perth however he solely lasted eight balls, caught and bowled by Jason Holder, whereas Warner nicked Alzarri Joseph to wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva.
The residence aspect, who’ve received each day-night Test they’ve contested, together with six-from-six in Adelaide, wish to wrap up the two-match sequence after profitable the opener by 164 runs.
Both sides have been with out key gamers.
Australian tempo spearheads Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have been dominated out, with Scott Boland and Michael Neser changing them.
Three West Indian mainstays have been additionally omitted injured, with allrounder Kyle Mayers becoming a member of quick bowlers Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales on the sidelines.
Anderson Phillip, Marquino Mindley and Thomas began as a substitute, with the latter two on debut.
But in one other setback, Mindley, who solely arrived in Adelaide on Tuesday after a touch from Jamaica, lasted simply two overs earlier than limping off to have a scan for a hamstring drawback.
Their state of affairs is so dire that former Test participant Omar Phillips, who was enjoying membership cricket in Australia, was rushed to Adelaide to function an emergency fielder.
On a wonderful however cool day, Smith received the toss and batted, trying to construct an enormous rating.
Warner initially bided his time, however then unleashed within the ninth over with three luxurious fours off Joseph.
But, like within the first Test, the left-hander’s need for fast runs price him. He was caught behind by Da Silva after slashing at one other large Joseph supply and getting a nick.
Khawaja was simply getting in his stride when Thomas pounced, with the Australian late to react because the ball rocketed into his pads.
Smith was undone by good reflexes from the lanky Holder, who bought down low to gather a catch off his personal bowling.
As they departed, Labuschagne remained defiant, selecting off boundaries and operating nicely between the wicket to convey up a tenth Test century, crunching a 4 by means of the covers off Thomas because the bowlers ran out of concepts.
Head, on his residence floor, was equally composed in making a fifth century, additionally changing with a boundary off Joseph.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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