Josh's spell and Head's century helps Australia win first Test against West Indies

Head’s attacking 119 and Hazlewood’s 4-18 put hosts in complete control against West Indies

An inspired spell of bowling from Josh Hazlewood and a brilliant attacking century from Travis Head put Australia in complete control of the first Test against the West Indies in Adelaide on Thursday.

After Head smashed 119 from 134 balls to take Australia to 283 and a first-innings lead of 95, Hazlewood took four wickets for just two runs at the start of the West Indies second innings to deal a hammer blow to the visitors. 

At stumps on the second day, the West Indies were 73-6, still 22 runs from making Australia bat again. Joshua Da Silva was not out 17, with Justin Greaves dismissed off the last ball of the day’s play. Hazlewood removed the top four West Indies batsmen in a superb spell of seam bowling.

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He dismissed Tagenarine Chanderpaul for a first ball duck, then in his next over he had captain Kraigg Brathwaite caught by Head at a deepish short leg. The West Indies were 7-3 when Alick Athanaze gloved a bouncer to keeper Alex Carey, then 19-4 when Kavem Hodge edged to Steve Smith at second slip. Kirk McKenzie and Greaves tried to rebuild the innings and took the score to 40 before McKenzie tried an expansive drive off Cameron Green, only to spoon the ball to Marnus Labuschagne at short cover.

Greaves and Da Silva batted sensibly and looked certain to take the West Indies safely to stumps, only for off-spinner Nathan Lyon to trap Greaves lbw for 24. “The pitches here have been very good, very different to back home, so our intent to score has always been evident,” West Indies coach Andre Coley said. 

“But that has to be matched with decision-making. With more bounce the ability to leave the ball more consistently has to be part of your repertoire.”  On a pitch that troubled every other batsman, Head seemed to be playing on a different surface, bringing up his seventh Test century with a glorious cover drive to the boundary. He eventually fell after making a brisk century, caught brilliantly on the boundary by Kavem Hodge off Alzarri Joseph.

Brief scores
West Indies 188 & 73-6 (K McKenzie 26; J Hazlewood 4-18) v Australia 283 (T Head 119; S Joseph 5-94)

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