AUSTRALIA VS WEST INDIES, 1ST TEST, DAY 2- Voges & Marsh blows of West Indies
Hobart: The Hobart Test unfolded as expected as Australia grabbed the early advantage and seem to be in the driver’s seat in the game after scoring a mammoth 583 runs in their first innings. Had it been any other full-strength team, Australia would have looked to continue but Steven Smith chose to declare the innings in order to push for a victory.
Winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Australia’s openers Joe Burns (33) and David Warner (64) were off to decent start, making 75 runs for the first wicket. West Indies hit back strongly and reduced them to 121-3 before Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh came together for a mammoth 449 runs partnership for the fourth wicket. Their majestic stand, which fourth highest in Test history, took Australia to 550 plus score in no time. Marsh made 182 from 266 balls while Voges was unbeaten on 269 from 285 deliveries when Australia declared their innings at lunch time. Voges scored at an ODI like strike-rate of 94.38, which helped Australia rake up 583-4 in 114 overs. Not to mention West Indies’ bowling and fielding was pathetic which only added to their woes. Shannon Gabriel was injured and will miss the rest of the series.
West Indies batsman struggled to score runs and inside 40 overs, the visitors found themselves struggling at 116-6. Darren Bravo was the only batsman who found no devil in the pitch and scored runs at his will. He saved the day without further embarrassment for his team, stitching together a vital 91 runs unbeaten stand for the seventh wicket. At the close of play, he was not out on 94 while his partner Kemar Roach was not out on 31 from 89 deliveries.
Talking about his team’s domination in the game, Australian bowler Nathan Lyon said “It was brilliant, our batters have been fantastic, that partnership with V[Voges] and SOS[Marsh] has been unbelievable really, to have those guys out in the middle for that long and to do the job they’ve done and put is in a pretty good position, as bowlers now it’s up to us to go out there and take 20 wickets. So credit to V and SOS the way they went about it.”
He added “I feel right now my shape’s really good. I feel like the West Indies weren’t sure if it was going to spin or slide on, especially with a bit of moisture on the wicket. I found the ball sliding on a bit, so I was able to use that angle. With the shape I’m able to get I feel like I’m going to create chances over the wicket. I know I’ve got around the wicket up my sleeve if I think I need to change it up, but I was happy over the wicket today.”
Australia, who won the last Cricket World Cup in 2015, will look to build a strong team for the Test World Cup also. ICC will be holding a World Cup for test matches also.
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MATCH SUMMARY Stumps, Day 2
AUSTRALIA 114 OVERS 583-4
A Voges 269*(285) J Warrican 3-158
S Marsh 182 (266) J Blackwood 0-25
D Warner 64 (61) K Brathwaite 0-52
WEST INDIES 65 OVERS 207-6
D Bravo 94*(159) N Lyon 3-43
K Roach 31*(89) J Hazlewood 2-43
R Chandrika 25 (58) P Siddle 1-22
AUSTRALIA ARE AHEAD BY 376 RUNS
Australia vs. West Indies cricket, West Indies vs. Australia cricket, Frank Worrell Trophy, Joe Burns, David Warner, Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel, Nathan Lyon, Darren Bravo, A Voges, S Marsh, D Warner, J Warrican, J Blackwood, K Brathwaite, D Bravo, K Roach, R Chandrika, N Lyon, J Hazzlewood, P Siddle.
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