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Hazlewood, Cummins rip through West Indies despite late fightback / Photo: © AFP
Hazlewood, Cummins rip through West Indies despite late fightback
Josh Hazlewood took his 250th Test wicket as Australia had the West Indies on the ropes at tea on the first day of the opening Test in Adelaide on Wednesday.
After Pat Cummins won the toss and sent the West Indies in to bat, the visitors were on 177-9 at tea, with debutant Shamar Joseph not out for a thrilling 31 off 33 balls and Kemar Roach alongside him on 11.
Joseph and Roach rescued the West Indies from total humilation with an enterprising 44-run partnership, coming together with the score on 133-9 and their side looking certain to be bowled out before tea.
Australia had gone into the Test making only one change from the team that beat Pakistan 3-0 earlier in the summer.
Steve Smith moved to the top of the Aussie order in place of the retired David Warner and Cameron Green was back at number four.
It was a different story for the West Indies, who gave debuts to all-rounders Kavem Hodge and Justin Greaves and fast bowler Shamar Joseph.
West Indies openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul began sedately, content to leave as many balls as possible.
Cummins brought himself on in the 10th over with immediate results, a fuller ball enticing Chanderpaul into an expansive drive, only to slice the ball to gully where Green used all his height to take a comfortable catch.
Cummins then removed Brathwaite with a beautiful ball that was angled in, then straightened and took the top of off stump to leave the West Indies 27-2 after the first hour.
Alick Athanaze and Kirk McKenzie then steadied the ship and looked to take the West Indies to lunch at two down, but with the score on 52, Athanaze opted to leave a Hazlewood delivery only to see the ball cannon into his off stump.
It was Hazlewood's 250th wicket in Test cricket, meaning the four main bowlers in Australia's attack -- Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Cummins and Nathan Lyon -- have all reached that milestone.
Hazlewood continued after lunch with the wickets of Hodge (12), McKenzie (50) and Greaves (5) to leave the West Indies reeling at 108-6.
That became 132-7 when Cummins had Joshua Da Silva caught at deep square leg for six, before one run later they lost both Gudakesh Motie and Alzarri Joseph.
But Shamar Joseph rescued the situation, showing no fear as he reached his highest first class score, with Roach offering solid support.
F. Burkhard--BTZ
