The end of a very long day for the West Indies
So that’s that. After all the predictions that the tourists would be vastly outmatched, there was a glimmer of hope in the morning before the Australians snuffed it out in the afternoon. If the West Indies continue to bowl like that, they’ll do well to take 20 wickets in the series, let alone one game.
Australia weren’t made to work especially hard for their runs, but you can only face the opposition put in front of you. Voges made a masterful 174, increasing his Test average to a remarkable 68.91, while Shaun Marsh anchored the innings with a much-needed century of his own.
With Usman Khawaja approaching fitness again, Marsh has created a problem for the selectors, but it’s the sort of problem they won’t mind too much. The West Indies, for their part, look as though they are in for a very long series.
It’s been a privilege to join you for the game – we’ll be back tomorrow, when Rob, Will and Jonathan Howcroft will guide you through the rest of Australia’s innings.
What a contrast. This is why Test cricket is the greatest game in the world.
Previous day of Test cricket: 71 runs in 71.1 overs Run-rate: 0.998 Today (2 matches): 847 runs in 179 overs Run-rate: 4.73 #Versatile
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 10, 2015
Stumps
89th over: Australia 438-3 (Voges 174, S.Marsh 139)
Braithwaite drags out the over, trying to make take it past the 6pm cutoff. Three more singles, and that’s stumps.
Australia got off to a sensational start, led by a fluent David Warner, but the loss of three wickets before lunch made it briefly appear as though it could be a contest.
After lunch, though, Voges and Marsh calmly compiled a century each in a partnership of 317. The West Indian bowling was lacklustre, and at no point did either batsman look ruffled or unsettled.
88th over: Australia 435-3 (Voges 173, S.Marsh 137)
Blackwood continues and only gives up two. Everyone’s just playing out time here. There’s a slim chance we could get all 90 overs in here (admittedly with the extra half hour taken).
Cricinfo’s Shiva has an interesting stat on today’s double runfest.
This is now the most runs scored on a two-Test day (NZ-409, Aus-421+). Previous highest was 823 runs on 07-Sep-2001. #AUSvWI #NZvSL
— Shiva J (@Shiva_cricinfo) December 10, 2015
87th over: Australia 433-3 (Voges 172, S.Marsh 136)
Braithwaite comes back for a few more twirls. The batsmen are happy not to take any risks, and the bowlers are making it very easy for them. Two more singles from the over.
I wonder whether that man is still trapped in the back of the sightscreen holding the tarpaulin in place? Hopefully the broadcast directors will show us soon.
86th over: Australia 431-3 (Voges 171, S.Marsh 135)
There’s time for two or three more overs, but the West Indies are just playing out time here. Blackwood bowls a quick over, but it’s unthreatening and that’s three more singles.
85th over: Australia 428-3 (Voges 170, S.Marsh 133)
The West Indies are doing a reasonable job at preventing boundaries, but it’s just too easy to score one or two runs every ball. With so many men on the off side and the rope, only the wicketkeeper and gully are in likely catching positions.
Will Australia bring Usman Khawaja back? It’d be brutal to drop him with two centuries in his last two Tests, but who would they drop? These two have surely secured their places in the next Test at least.
84th over: Australia 426-3 (Voges 169, S.Marsh 132)
I don’t know why, but it seems Holder is saving the new ball for the morning. Blackwood rattles through a quick, tight over, and a few nudges and nurdles later, that’s four more runs.
83rd over: Australia 422-3 (Voges 167, S.Marsh 130)
Does Holder even know he is allowed a new ball? I can’t think of any good reason not to take it. Holder perseveres with the old nut, maintaining a line just outside off stump. Marsh picks up a run from a misfield.
Australia’s highest partnership for the 4th wicket is 388 between Bill Ponsford and Don Bradman all the way back in 1934. These two will fancy their chances at overhauling it.
Elsewhere, Vernon Philander has been ruled out of the first two Tests against England.
82nd over: Australia 421-3 (Voges 167, S.Marsh 129)
Still no sign of the new ball as Holder perseveres with Blackwood. He bowls a couple of rank full tosses, but Marsh and Voges don’t really connect and can only manage singles. One more, and that’s the 300 partnership up. The run rate has remained steadily just above 5 for the last few hours.
Updated
81st over: Australia 416-3 (Voges 167, S.Marsh 127)
Bafflingly, the West Indies don’t take take the new ball immediately, Holder instead choosing to bring himself on with the old one. The umpires seem equally confused by the decision, with umpire Ian Gould having removed it from his pocket expectantly.
Voges picks up three runs with a poorly-fielded drive, but Holder keeps them quiet otherwise.
The day should have finished now, but the slow over rate means we’ll have another half hour of play. We’ll probably lose four or five overs total, I expect.
Updated
80th over: Australia 416-3 (Voges 164, S.Marsh 127)
Surely the final over before the new ball, and it’s more loopy spin, this time from Blackwood. Voges and Marsh negotiate it without any trouble whatsoever, and pick up nine more runs, including a magnificent four off the final ball of the over, absolutely leathered through cover by Marsh.
79th over: Australia 407-3 (Voges 162, S.Marsh 120)
Oh dear. That’s disappointing from Ramdin, who watches Marsh leave the ball and then watches the ball pass straight through his gloves on the way to the boundary for four byes. Roach is bowling a little better this afternoon now, and makes Marsh think about a few deliveries.
Meanwhile, the Adelaide Strikers have signed a big name for the Big Bash – none other than Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene. Full story here.
78th over: Australia 400-3 (Voges 162, S.Marsh 118)
Warrican continues, but Voges and Marsh are able to push a few easy singles down the ground, and they bring up the 400. This has been a monumental stand from these two – the partnership is already up to 278.
Kester Smith has one idea that could speed up over rates:
Give the crowd their money back. If 90 overs are scheduled and only 81 bowled - for whatever reason except the match ends with a win, the crowd get 10% of their money back.
While it doesn’t directly hit the players, I think you would find over rates would quickly pick up. It’s similar to when they play 20 overs in steady drizzle just to avoid giving the crowd a refund.
77th over: Australia 394-3 (Voges 160, S.Marsh 114)
Roach pulls himself together a bit and induces a bottom edge from Voges – it misses the stumps by about three or four inches, and is easily the closest the West Indies have come to a wicket this session. Voges tried to cut but the ball held up a bit and he was lucky not to drag on.
A much better over from Roach there.
76th over: Australia 391-3 (Voges 157, S.Marsh 114)
Warrican whips through another over as we count down to the new ball. He varies his flight a bit, but the batsmen aren’t interested in taking risks at this point, and instead just accumulate five more runs.
Who will take the new ball? With Gabriel out, I’d guess probably Holder and Taylor.
75th over: Australia 386-3 (Voges 153, S.Marsh 113)
Kemar Roach back into the attack. He was ineffective this morning, and serves up some more rubbish to Marsh, allowing him to pick up consecutive fours with a clip through midwicket and a cut to deep backward square. He goes for 12 from the over, and the hole gets deeper and deeper.
Like everyone, Robert Wilson has been wondering how Donald Trump would punish slow over rates:
Penalties for slow over-rates? I know what Donald Trump would say. Give the crowd crossbows, have half-starved tigers leaping out of trapdoors in the outfield. I’m aware that Donald’s rather blotted his copybook of late but it would definitely get bums on seats.
Updated
150 for Voges!
74th over: Australia 374-3 (Voges 152, S.Marsh 103)
Warrican’s back, and Voges reaches his 150 from the first ball of the over with a well-executed reverse sweep. Warrican’s unfeasibly short runup seems to be getting even shorter, and the batsmen pick up a couple more singles.
Paul Cockburn’s been turning his attention to that other match taking place across the Tasman:
Close of play and NZ reached 409/8. Guptill went for a fantastic 156, and having rattled along at 4.54, the Blackcaps can look forward to a quick thrash in the morning, and then letting Boult and Southee loose on a wicket that I’m hearing ought to be a belter to bat on tomorrow. Great start for NZ; both Pradeep and Chameera went 101-2.
100 for Marsh!
73rd over: Australia 369-3 (Voges 148, S.Marsh 102)
Shaun Marsh brings up his third Test century – and his first in Australia – with a confident pull for four to square leg.
He’s been fantastic support for the faster-scoring Voges, and hasn’t offered so much as a sniff. He raises his bat to salute the crowd, and looks appropriately delighted. Australia are completely on top here. Can they hit 450 by stumps? 500, even?
72nd over: Australia 365-3 (Voges 148, S.Marsh 98)
Marsh and Voges, both a boundary away from their next landmark, exchange two singles each.
There’s a strangled appeal for LBW from Braithwaite against Marsh, but it didn’t look close and they run a leg bye.
It’s Australia’s turn for bad news about a bowler: Mitchell Starc may have to miss the World T20 after confirmation he’ll need ankle surgery. Full story here.
71st over: Australia 360-3 (Voges 146, S.Marsh 96)
Time for drinks. The Bellerive Oval crowd is still small, but visibly growing.
Only 10 overs till the new ball, and it can’t come soon enough. Marsh digs out a yorker, then makes his way into the 90s with two beautiful, almost identical, cover drives off consecutive balls. He cuts powerfully in an attempt to reach his century, but it’s well blocked at point.
On Channel Nine, they’re discussing what the appropriate penalty for slow over rates is. In my opinion, fines aren’t much of a deterrent and suspending captains can punish the wrong players. Some sort of run-based penalty seems fairest – any thoughts?
70th over: Australia 350-3 (Voges 145, S.Marsh 88)
It’s back to more easy runs as Braithwaite serves up a selection of short wide balls and balls on the pads. He’s not getting any turn, and his flight isn’t going to cause these guys any trouble. It’s just so easy for them right now.
Here’s an interesting titbit emailed in by Raymond Reardon (could it be the snooker player? If so, I’d be interested to hear the opinions of such an expert on pink balls):
Australia reached 111 during the 22nd over, 222 during the 44th over, 333 during the 66th over and should reach 444 by the 99th over tomorrow.
69th over: Australia 344-3 (Voges 142, S.Marsh 85)
Taylor flings down the first wide of the day before suddenly finding his line and making Marsh play a straight bat to a few in a row. Marsh then pulls a short one hard and is unlucky only to get a single. That’s the best over of the evening session so far – if only all of the West Indies bowlers could maintain that discipline.
Robert McL Wilson raises the question of whether the Australians are embarrassed yet. To me, Adam Voges permanently has the look of someone slightly embarrassed to be the centre of attention, but perhaps that’s just what happens when you play in the same side as David Warner.
@itsalanevans Time was batters would hole out or retire after a ton against the Uni's. Are we there with WI? Does Voges look embarrassed?
— Robert McL Wilson (@Parisbob2001) December 10, 2015
68th over: Australia 342-3 (Voges 142, S.Marsh 84)
Back to Braithwaite. Voges and Marsh take turns to guide the ball into what feel like enormous gaps and pick up six more runs.
And there’s more bad news for the West Indies: Shannon Gabriel won’t bowl again today due to ankle pain, and will have a scan after play. That’s the last thing they need on the first day of a series in which they’re likely to spend a very long time in the field.
67th over: Australia 331-3 (Voges 139, S.Marsh 81)
Jerome Taylor has been given his chance, but there’s a delay on the field as a problem with the sightscreen is fixed. Channel Nine fill the gap by playing the oh-so-funny footage of a queasy Michael Slater in the cherry picker. Expect this to feature heavily over the next four two days.
It looks like a man has now been given the job of hiding in the back of the sightscreen holding the tarpaulin in place after its normal bindings failed. Poor guy.
The fuss hasn’t distracted Voges, who picks off Taylor for a couple through gully. He’s tucked up by the third ball, but not really in any discomfort. Another single brings Marsh on strike, but he can’t do anything with the last two balls.
Updated
66th over: Australia 333-3 (Voges 136, S.Marsh 81)
Blackwood is actually doing a reasonable job of keeping the run rate down, even if he isn’t looking like a wicket-taking threat. He gives up a couple of singles, but has now conceded just 11 runs from his four overs. The West Indies need more of this sort of thing if they want to put any pressure on at all.
65th over: Australia 331-3 (Voges 135, S.Marsh 80)
Holder – who has been suspended by the ICC for slow over rates in one day internationals – seems unperturbed by the prospect of receiving another official reprimand.
He takes an age to reset the field between balls, and is fortunate that Voges mistimes a couple of bad balls and only concedes three runs from the over – including a remarkable ninth no ball of the day from the West Indies.
SMarsh has been involved in 6 century partnerships. The fact 3 of them are 200-plus, including today, shows when he goes he goes big #AusvWI
— Jesse Hogan (@Jesse_Hogan) December 10, 2015
64th over: Australia 328-3 (Voges 134, S.Marsh 79)
More exceptionally lazy fielding gives Australia an undeserved single, before some straight-batted pokes into gaps earn them two more. It’s hard to imagine where a wicket will come from – these two are completely serene out there.
63rd over: Australia 325-3 (Voges 132, S.Marsh 78)
Good fielding from the West Indies saves a run from what looked like a certain boundary for Marsh, but a single from the next ball brings up the 200 partnership. These two have been chanceless since coming in.
After saving that run, the West Indies give up an additional two with a misfield and some very lazy fielding, making it eight from the over.
62nd over: Australia 317-3 (Voges 130, S.Marsh 72)
Blackwood continues to probe unsuccessfully with his looping offbreaks and holds the Australians to two singles off the over.
The Jamaican’s first-class bowling average is 43.13, so Voges and Marsh won’t be unduly threatened by his relaxed approach.
61st over: Australia 315-3 (Voges 129, S.Marsh 71)
There are still 20 overs until the new ball. If the West Indies can’t pick up at least two wickets before then, Australia will be past 400 and it’s hard to see how they can get back into the game.
The enormous Holder brings himself back on, but gives Marsh an easy two to backward square leg and then a couple more singles. Voges and Marsh don’t seem threatened by his pace and continue to rack up the runs.
Channel Nine, sensing that viewers may be losing interest in this period of the game, cut away to scenic views of Hobart and the Derwent river. It’s a beautiful day, just a few white clouds flecked across the sky, and perfect weather for batting.
60th over: Australia 311-3 (Voges 128, S.Marsh 68)
On comes another spinner, Jermaine Blackwood, to replace Warrican. His action is all arms and legs, flailing around before delivering the ball with no discernible turn.
It’s not a terrible over, and Australia pick up four singles as they march inexorably forward.
59th over: Australia 307-3 (Voges 126, S.Marsh 66)
Marsh gets in on the fun with four of his own – he had all the time in the world to pick his spot. Holder would have been hoping that spin from both ends might slow the run rate, but neither Braithwaite nor Warrican can restrain these two.
It’s the end of the first day in Dunedin, and New Zealand finished on 409-8 after losing Tim Southee shortly before the finish.
58th over: Australia 303-3 (Voges 126, S.Marsh 62)
This is too easy. Two more fours swept to square leg by Voges in almost identical fashion bring up the Australian 300.
The spinners’ job here should be to lock the batsmen down and try to frustrate them into making a mistake, but with at least one bad ball an over to feed off, the batsmen aren’t feeling any pressure at all.
57th over: Australia 295-3 (Voges 118, S.Marsh 62)
The first ball of the over sits up and Voges swats it to square leg, but the rest of the over is better – though still not threatening – and only brings a couple of singles.
At this rate, could Voges catch Taylor? (that 764 was before play started)
Mark Taylor (1219 in 1989) only Aussie to score more runs in debut year than @acvoges 764 n counting. Only 7 others higher. #AUSvWI
— John Townsend (@johnt237) December 10, 2015
56th over: Australia 288-3 (Voges 112, S.Marsh 61)
Voges and Marsh will find few easier occasions than this to pad their averages. The bowling is lacklustre, and six unthreatening balls bring eight more runs, the highlight a textbook cover drive from Marsh off the last ball of the over.
55th over: Australia 280-3 (Voges 111, S.Marsh 54)
A single from Voges off the first ball puts Marsh on strike again but this time Braithwaite offers him an easy ball on his legs which he clips down to fine leg for two. It’s been a solid 50 from 86 balls - and only 16 runs have come in boundaries, in stark contrast to the scoring styles of some of his teammates.
Some good fielding from the West Indies prevents a likely boundary, but the run rate remains above 5.
54th over: Australia 274-3 (Voges 110, S.Marsh 49)
Shaun Marsh finds himself on strike, looking to bring up his 50. He shows a little bit of aggression trying to drive down the ground, but bowler Warrican keeps him pinned back and it’s just two off the over.
53rd over: Australia 272-3 (Voges 109, S.Marsh 48)
More nudges and chops bring more easy runs as Voges and Marsh bring up the 150 partnership from 178 balls (at a run rate of 5.14). The demoralised West Indies are taking an age to reset the field as the strike changes.
Guptill has finally fallen in Dunedin, finishing with 156 from 234 balls. He’s put New Zealand in a commanding position towards the end of the first day.
52nd over: Australia 266-3 (Voges 105, S.Marsh 46)
Warrican picks up the ball at the other end. Perhaps a spell of spin from both ends will help the over rate, at least.
Marsh picks up an easy two to long on and a single to deep square leg before Voges chops the ball down to third man for another two and cuts to extra cover for a single. The field setting is so defensive that Voges and Marsh aren’t being forced to take any risks.
Updated
51st over: Australia 259-3 (Voges 101, S.Marsh 43)
And we’re back, with the West Indies desperately needing a wicket soon. Kraigg Braithwaite is the man entrusted with the ball. Marsh and Voges pick up an easy single each and block out the rest.
Meanwhile, in Dunedin, BJ Watling has fallen to Chameera, leaving New Zealand on 376-6 with seven overs to go.
Updated
Do you have any opinions? Facts to share? Things to get off your chest? Predictions about which former Australia player will be forced into the cherry picker tomorrow? Email me on alan.evans@theguardian.com or send me a tweet at @itsalanevans.
So, will Australia reach 400 this evening? Or can the West Indies claw their way back into contention? Nobody knows! Let’s find out.
Updated
Afternoon, Alan here. Thanks to Rob and Will for their work on the first couple of sessions.
It’s clearly Australia’s day so far, despite those wickets before lunch, and despite the slow over rate the hosts will be looking to pass 400 this evening.
After David Warner’s brilliant 64 came to an end on the stroke of lunch, Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh calmly piled on another 130-odd runs. Voges brought up his third Test century from 100 balls just before tea, sparing himself a nervy 20 minutes.
Spinner Jomel Warrican has been inconsistent and bowled too many bad balls, but the occasional one has done enough that the Australian batsmen can’t completely relax. The West Indies will need him to hold up an end for a while – and ideally pick up a wicket or two – if they want to reach the new ball with the game still in their grasp. Of course, at the current over rate, that may not be until tomorrow morning.
Updated
Tea: Australia 257-3
Voges blocks the last ball from Warrican and that is tea. Australia have added 136 in the session and are well on top. Pretty sorry showing from West Indies, which is a shame. Voges has been magnificent but a word for Shaun Marsh too, who has defended and lefted well and looked classy in attack too. I’m off now, but Alan Evans will be back after the break to guide you through the final session. Go well!
100 for Voges!
50th over: Australia 257-3 (Voges 100, S.Marsh 42)
Adam Voges started this session on 9, but has brought up his ton with the penultimate ball before tea! 100 from 100 balls! Exceptional performance. They trade singles, then he sweeps hard and gets four. First time he’s played that stroke to Warrican. Then he pushes down the ground and they run so hard and get back for two! Well played that man.
Updated
49th over: Australia 249-3 (Voges 93, S.Marsh 41)
Roach is doing OK. This is better. Voges takes a quick single into the offside, then Marsh sees out the over, and is only able to leave one. Marsh is making things interesting should Uzzie Khawaja (as expected) be fit for the Boxing Day Test...
Updated
48th over: Australia 248-3 (Voges 92, S.Marsh 41)
Warrican twirls away. The first is defended, but the second is short and wide and beats the man at cover to run away for two. Voges moves into the 90s with that and there’s a single to long-on next up. Marsh flicks through a tiny gap on the on-side for two off the last.
This is about right:
This West Indies team has inherited the poor over rates of the great sides that preceded them, but that's about it I'm afraid
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) December 10, 2015
47th over: Australia 243-3 (Voges 89, S.Marsh 39)
Voges takes a single to deep-square from Roach’s first ball. He then bowls a tight line to keep Marsh scoreless for four balls, before inevitably erring. Marsh runs hard for two into the legside.
Raymond Reardon’s been in touch, and he’s going cross-topic: the smallish crowd AND Roach’s gold chain: “If they can get the crowd numbers above the 6,666 gold links in the gold chains worn by the Windies it will confirm that there are more links in a Tasmanian crowd.”
This just about sums the last hour or so up:
Awful stint for WI as they make a double change and concede 82 from 11o: Taylor 0-36 off 5o (7.2rpo), Gabriel 0-41 off 5o (8.13rpo). #AusvWI
— Jesse Hogan (@Jesse_Hogan) December 10, 2015
46th over: Australia 240-3 (Voges 88, S.Marsh 37)
Warrican is back into the attack. Might not be a bad idea. He got a couple shortly before lunch. Just (says a bit about the run rate that I’ve added that word) three from the over, as Voges squeezes past cover, Marsh knocks it down the ground and Voges cuts, all for one. Not threatening at all.
There are about 15 minutes until tea. Oh dear... It’s a long old slog.
45 overs bowled... only another 45 to go...
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) December 10, 2015
Oh there’s more....
And Jason Holder was suspended for slow over rate in ODI's not so long ago... https://t.co/c4mm3p07LP
— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_M_FOX) December 10, 2015
Updated
45th over: Australia 237-3 (Voges 86, S.Marsh 36)
Kemar Roach is back! He’s only bowled four overs today and they really weren’t very good. It’s very much a question of when, not if, Voges gets his century. He looks so comfortable. He defends two - Roach is still not at top pace - before flicking to deep-square for one. Good line at Marsh - the first is fifth stump and left, then it’s on off and defended well. Oh, but that’s no good. You’ve ruined it, Roachy. It’s full, wide and just too easy. Threaded through the offside for four by Marsh. Great shot, to be fair. As SK Warne points out, Roach is wearing a quite ridiculously big chain round his neck.
44th over: Australia 232-3 (Voges 85, S.Marsh 32)
And there’s the hundred partnership. And 100 up since lunch. Taylor bowls a full toss to Marsh, who is surprised by it and deflects it behind square on the offside for three. It’s well cut off by the man running round from deep cover. The third ball is drilled through the legside for Voges’ 15th(!!) four. Shot. Sneaky single into the offside off the next, then Marsh flicks through midwicket for a lovely boundary. Dot off the last. THIS LOOKS SO EASY! It’s flat, but the bowling is dross.
More news from Dunedin.
OUT - McCullum hauls out to deep square leg for an entertaining 75 off 57 balls, 13 fours & 1 six. Santner joins Guptill (*132), 338/4 ^WN
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 10, 2015
43rd over: Australia 220-3 (Voges 80, S.Marsh 25)
Another single for Voges, with a cut to deep point. He’s very content: 80 from 81. Marsh leaves two then defends into the offside with a barked “No!” The fifth is cover driven sumptuously as Gabriel overpitches. The hands are fast and the foot to the pitch. Beautiful boundary. Last of the over he takes three with a push down the ground. Not quite timed, but attractive nevertheless. He’s quietly ticking along and the partnership is 99.
Crowd watch!
5673 the current crowd. So it'll be ~6000 by the end, a fraction more maybe. Which is also what they got for day one in 2012. #AUSvWI
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) December 10, 2015
Updated
42nd over: Australia 212-3 (Voges 79, S.Marsh 18)
Marsh plays a handsome straight drive but Taylor cuts it off. There’s an equally attractive shot next up, and he gets one – it’s a lovely cut to the man at deep point. Voges plays a controlled pull to deep square for another, then Marsh leaves. They trade singles at the end of the over, Marsh squeezing a single to mid-on, and Voges flicking beautifully to deep midwicket.
I hadn’t noticed that Mahela Jayawardene was heading to Adelaide Strikers. That’s fun. Big Bash is well stocked with top drawer overseas this season.
Slater’s up the bleeding cherry picker.
Updated
41st over: Australia 208-3 (Voges 77, S.Marsh 16)
Voges is just putting it exactly where he wants now. He cuts to the man at deep point for one off the first ball of the over. Gabriel drifts on to Marsh’s pads – which you just shouldn’t – and he just nudges to deep midwicket for an easy two, then sends one to deep square for one. Voges leaves, defends, and leaves. Easy as.
Meanwhile in Dunedin ... Baz being Baz. Paul Cockburn reports: “Twenty overs of the day left, and NZ are on 313-3 (say that quickly). Ross Taylor went cheaply, but McCullum is in now, and has blazed a 30-odd ball 50. Chameera 0-80. Ouch (as the ever-tedious Opta would probably say).” Ouch indeed.
And 50 for captain McCullum off just 39 balls. 8 fours and 1 six. NZ 304/3 with 21 overs left in the day #NZvSL ^WN
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 10, 2015
Updated
40th over: Australia 204-3 (Voges 76, S.Marsh 13)
Taylor starts the over well, full and straight, and Voges twice pushes to mid-on. But then he just drifts too full and too straight and is on-driven through wide mid-on for four. There’s two off an inside edge and then he drives straighter picking up four more. He’s stealing the strike now too, with a single into the offside. So Australia brought up the 200 that over (they’ve hit 34 fours) and Voges is going at better than a run a ball. The bloke is absolutely flying, and making it look so easy all the while.
Updated
39th over: Australia 193-3 (Voges 65, S.Marsh 13)
As Voges has accelerated, Marsh has just chilled a little. Gabriel gets one to rise at him first up and he fends well to gully, before cutting to the man at deep point for one. Voges gets in behind a couple, defending very firmly as Gabriel finds a good line. He drifts a little wider and Voges chops hard down on it and it runs away over gully for four. There’s three rather strange runs from the last. Voges drives beautifully and it deflects off the stumps at the non-striker’s, and runs past the man at mid-on who – as if in slow motion – misses with a dive, before chasing it all the way to the fence.
It’s time for a drink, which means that Michael Slater (who is scared of heights) is being forced up a cherry picker by his Channel Nine buds. The public voted him in, of course they did. Mark Taylor’s going up tomorrow, so Slater asks what the weight limit is!!!!!
In the cricket, Australia have had a great hour and the West Indies have really let them get away.
Updated
38th over: Australia 185-3 (Voges 58, S.Marsh 12)
Too short, too wide again from Taylor and Voges gets an under edge that runs away for four. He’s flying, but Taylor’s better for the rest of the over, probing on and outside off stump, and there are no more runs.
Raymond Reardon’s been in touch about the crowd: “With the quandary over the crowd numbers at today’s Test in Hobart,” he asks, “do the crowd numbers exceed (a) the 400 that attended the world marbles championships, (b) the 2,549 that attended the recent World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Scotland at Bellerive Oval, (c) the 6,666 gold links in the gold chains worn by the West Indies cricketers, or (d) the 10,000 Tasmanian devils remaining in the wild in Tassie?”
Somewhere between a) and b) for mine, Raymond ...
Updated
50 for Voges!
37th over: Australia 181-3 (Voges 54, S.Marsh 12)
Voges is in delightful form. Looks so confident, so easy. Gabriel’s too wide first up and he slashes him behind point for four. Two balls later and it’s a full no-ball that he nails through the covers for four more. That’s his 50 and it’s come off just 55 with 10 fours. There are a couple of dots, then he pushes a single to point, and Marsh leaves one alone.
Agree with this. Perhaps Joe Root as well? Rahane?
Don't think there's a bigger 'blink-and-he's-scored-40' player in the world than Adam Voges. Just gets the job done #AUSvWI
— Martin Smith (@martinsmith9994) December 10, 2015
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36th over: Australia 171-3 (Voges 45, S.Marsh 12)
Double change for Australia as Taylor comes on. Different end for him this time. Voges is a long way forward first up in defence, then deep in the crease in attack, with a gorgeous cut behind square for four. Lovely. He’s ghosted to 44. He’s strongly in behind the next one, then gets a squirty edge that gully does well to keep to a dot. The next is defended with soft hands into the offside for a single and that’s the 50 stand off 73 balls. Well batted. Marsh leaves the last.
Mr Warner (not the one in the Australia team) has been in touch about Slats and the cherry picker. “The obvious answer,” he says, “is ‘as long as he stays up there.’ ” Very droll.
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35th over: Australia 166-3 (Voges 40, S.Marsh 12)
A change! Holder’s made a change! He’s brought someone fast on! It’s Gabriel on. But he’s drifting down the legside first ball and Voges just slips it down to fine leg for an unfussy four. The next is better, mind. Voges is shouldering arms and it’s nipped back and hit him on the pad. Umps says no and Holder looks interested for a moment, but no dice. Not doing enough and he’s a fair way outside the line.
Oosshh, that’s a beautiful on drive off the third. It beats mid-on and runs away for four of the loveliest runs. And the next is nice, too. Flicked finely through midwicket for three. Marsh leaves one then – with Gabriel over the wicket – is hit on the pad, but it’s struck him outside the line. Erratic start from Gabriel ...
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34th over: Australia 155-3 (Voges 29, S.Marsh 12)
Warrican – and the defence – continues. Having got Warner before the break Holder (who is my favourite cricketer, by the way) could have gone for the jugular a bit more. Anyway, two from the over. Marsh gets one to midwicket off the first, Voges uneventfully defends four, then takes a single to mid-on. What do we reckon, guys?
Questions. pic.twitter.com/tJk3piVeLn
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) December 10, 2015
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33rd over: Australia 153-3 (Voges 28, S.Marsh 11)
Holder continues, and it’s all rather easy for the first four balls as he just leaves, leaves, defends then leaves. He cuts the fourth – which is wider and shorter – beautifully, but the man at point does well to get a bit on it and it’s two rather than four. There’s a good single to wide mid-on to end the over. Surely time for a change, Jase?
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32nd over: Australia 150-3 (Voges 28, S.Marsh 8)
There’s a decent delay before this over, of course there is. Poor over rates get on commentators’ goats, and quite frankly they get on mine too, Completely needless waste of viewers’ time. Tell me I’m not alone/an idiot for thinking this?
Anyway, Voges takes Warrican for an easy single to long-on, before Marsh skips neatly down to the track and takes two to the man running round at deep midwicket. A single to long-on brings up the 150. Half an hour played of this session, and the Windies are just letting the game drift. Not cool.
31st over: Australia 146-3 (Voges 27, S.Marsh 5)
Holder starts with a nice nut, which Marsh judges well and leaves. He lets the next one go very easily, before playing at one he didn’t need to play at. Then there’s a no-ball (the seventh!!!), which Mark Taylor says doesn’t cost New Zealand, despite quite literally costing them a run. Marsh defends one and then leaves two and it’s over. Just the no-ball from it.
30th over: Australia 145-3 (Voges 27, S.Marsh 5)
Australia on the move, this over. Big time, as David Brent would say. Four boundaries for Voges off Warrican. The first is a bit rank (they all count, don’t they) as Voges goes much more legside than he planned. Four though. There’s a dot before two delightful strokes – one punch over the bowler’s head, and one pull through midwicket. Both boundaries. The fifth is flat and blocked, and the sixth might be the best of the lot. He skips down the track and flicks through midwicket. 16 from the over and surely time for Taylor or Roach?
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29th over: Australia 129-3 (Voges 11, S.Marsh 5)
Shaun Marsh pushes Holder’s first into the offside, then leaves the second. Ooooohhhhh, that is delightful. The third flies through the covers when Holder overpitches a touch. Down on one knee, four all the way. Marsh looks more confident thereafter, even if he picks out cover point from another laced middled half-volley. Otherwise defended beautifully into the offside. Dare I say it, that’s one of those overs when I really get Shaun Marsh.
28th over: Australia 125-3 (Voges 11, S.Marsh 1)
Good over from Warrican, and it’s a maiden. The boy’s not afraid to give it a bit of flight and Voges is watchful in defence. There are a couple of drives that sting mid-off’s hands, and the last is fired in flatter, shorter and straighter. Punched back to the bowler.
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27th over: Australia 125-3 (Voges 11, S.Marsh 1)
Uneventful over from Holder. Voges nabs a sharp legside single first up, before Shaun Marsh leaves and defensively drives his way through the over without really looking like scoring a run or getting out. Jeez, Hobart looks a picture today.
26th over: Australia 124-3 (Voges 10, S.Marsh 1)
It’s Warrican from the other end! Great news. What’s not such great news is the field Holder’s gone for; it’s very spread, and Marsh just nudges his second ball into the legside to get off the mark. Voges defends then comes down the track and knocks it back to the bowler, then defends again. Over ends with an easy single into the legside.
Paul Cockburn’s been in touch with an email, and he begins with a line that is quite simply always good news “Meanwhile in New Zealand ...” Never a bad time to hear from that wonderful place. He continues: “A fabulous and overdue century for Martin Guptil and a quick 50 from Kane Williamson has put the Blackcaps in a commanding position as we head into the final session in beautiful Dunedin. Losing Williamson to the last ball before tea probably the only black spot.” Indeed, the Kiwis are looking very good at 229-2. You fancy the Sri Lankans won’t mind seeing the back of Williamson ...
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25th over: Australia 122-3 (Voges 9, S.Marsh 0)
It’s captain Holder to begin after the break, and he starts with a no-ball to Voges. Jerome Taylor started the day with a no-ball too. Not a great habit to get in to, lads. Think Holder is going for the mythical “send a message to the quicks” by bowling himself. Sir Curtly Ambrose certainly gave Taylor and Kemar Roach an earful at lunch for the way they bowled first up. I’m definitely scared of Curtly.
The next two are outside off and left, then there’s a straighter one which Voges defends under his nose. The fourth is left and the final two are defended safely. Just the foot fault from the over.
Hello everyone, Will here. Thanks to Rob for taking us this far. There’s a bit more pressure to be had in this session than I thought there’d be 30 minutes before lunch. Do we have a game on our hands? Do we have a series on our hands? I do hope so.
The wondrously named spinner Jomel Warrican got Smith (with a beauty) then Warner (oh so soft) shortly before the break to properly peg the Aussies back, which is good enough for me. His length has been a little erratic, but he’s definitely fun. Sure the quicks will get stuck into Shaun Marsh after the break but I’m looking forward to him having another twirl in a bit.
Tell me what you’re up to. Send me your tweets, to the pithy @willis_macp. Send me your emails, to the considerably more clumsy will.macpherson.freelance@theguardian.com. Look forward to hearing from you.
Players are on their way out. The game’s flying along already. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
Okay, I’m off to find out more about Mervin Durand. Thanks for your company. Will Macpherson will be here for the afternoon session. Bye!
Lunch: Australia 121-3
A session of two halves. Australia raced to 75 for none after 10.5 overs, aided by some appalling bowling. But the wicket of Joe Burns, bowled by a beauty from Shannon Gabriel, changed the mood of the match. In the last 13.1 overs of the session, Australia made 46 for three.
The left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, playing his second Test, picked up the two big wickets. Steve Smith fell to a jaffa and David Warner was strangled down the leg side just before the break.
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24th over: Australia 121-3 (Voges 9, S Marsh 0) West Indies faffed so much before the first delivery to the new batsman Shaun Marsh that there was no time for another over. So that’s lunch.
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WICKET! Australia 121-3 (Warner c Ramdin b Warrican 64)
Warner has gone! This has somehow turned into a decent morning for West Indies. It was a slightly freakish dismissal, with Warner thin-edging a poor delivery from Warrican down the leg side, where the fleet-footed Ramdin took a smart catch. West Indies won’t give a solitary fig about the manner of the wicket, however. They have dismissed Warner for a typically brilliant 61-ball 64.
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23rd over: Australia 120-2 (Warner 64, Voges 8) Warner, who has been sufficiently becalmed in the last half an hour that his strike rate almost dropped below 100, breaks out to push a gorgeous boundary through the covers off Holder. His timing is so underrated, certainly in some quarters. Holder is bowling nicely here, and jags one back a long way to almost hit Warner in the breadbasket.
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22nd over: Australia 116-2 (Warner 60, Voges 8) Warrican’s length isn’t as consistent as you’d like, but his better deliveries have a lovely drift and loop, particularly to the right-handers. Three from the over.
21st over: Australia 113-2 (Warner 58, Voges 7) West Indies have had a largely shocking morning – yet if they can somehow get rid of Warner before lunch they will feel they are right in the game, such is the relative fragility of Australia’s middle order. Holder almost does so with a an extreme legcutter that beats the edge, “Exactly the sort of ball Courtney Walsh used to bowl,” observes Mark Nicholas on Channel Nine.
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20th over: Australia 110-2 (Warner 57, Voges 5) Warrican, excited by the wicket, goes for a magic ball first up to Voges which turns into a full toss and is whipped for four.
WICKET! Australia 101-2 (Smith c Blackwood b Warrican 10)
So that’s why they were bowling spin at Steve Smith. That was a wonderful delivery from Warrican – tossed up slowly from around the wicket and gripping sharply to take the shoulder of the bat as Smith reached forward defensively. Jermaine Blackwood took a nice low catch at slip. That really was a beautiful piece of bowling.
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19th over: Australia 101-1 (Warner 53, Smith 10) The captain Holder, on for Gabriel, does something magical: he bowls a maiden. It would be pushing it to say the West Indies have restored order, but that wicket has slowed things down a little after the anarchy of the first hour. The last eight overs have produced 26 runs, after 75 from the first 11.
18th over: Australia 101-1 (Warner 53, Smith 10) Warner clips Warrican for two to bring up the 100, already.
Warner has now made 11 50+ scores in 2015 - most by an AUS opener in a year. Hayden and Katich had made 10 each in '01 & '09 resp'ly #AUSvWI
— Shiva J (@Shiva_cricinfo) December 10, 2015
17th over: Australia 97-1 (Warner 50, Smith 9) Warner takes a very quick single off Gabriel to reach the usual 50, a masterful effort from just 40 balls. He’s already scored 642 Test runs this summer. There’s no better opener in the world, and there are few better batsmen. That run was even tighter than it seemed first time round, and the diving Smith would have been miles out with a direct hit from point.
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16th over: Australia 94-1 (Warner 49, Smith 8) Warrican has started well enough, apart from one half-volley to Warner, and there are just a couple of singles from that over. Warner has 49 from 37 balls.
15th over: Australia 92-1 (Warner 48, Smith 7) Gabriel tries to tempt Smith with a fifth-stump line, but Smith isn’t interested and it’s a maiden. Good stuff from both players. It will be a test of patience for Gabriel, because Smith is so good at wearing bowlers down and eventually making them bowl to him. Gabriel, who looks like he could bench-press a three-storey house, has been by far the pick of the bowlers: 4-0-15-1.
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14th over: Australia 92-1 (Warner 48, Smith 7) Warrican overpitches, and Warner punishes him with a firm drive for four. This is such accomplished batting, to the point where it appears effortless. Appears being the operative word. As David Gower once said, it’s hard work making batting look effortless. Sublime talent helps, mind you.
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13th over: Australia 85-1 (Warner 42, Smith 6) A huge no-ball from Gabriel, one of the biggest I’ve ever seen, is followed by a cracking cover-drive for four by Smith. Australia are going at 6.5 an over, on the first morning of a Test series.
12th over: Australia 79-1 (Warner 42, Smith 1) Jomel Warrican, the left-arm spinner, comes on for Jason Holder. Why would you attack Smith with spin rather than seam at the start of his innings? Mind you, Warrican has an outrageous first-class record – 78 wickets at 17.92, including six in his only Test so far. Four from his first over.
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11th over: Australia 75-1 (Warner 39, Smith 0) That was a really good over from Gabriel, with everything in its right place on a good length. It seems absurd to say that he was rewarded for his patience, as he’s only bowled two overs, but in the context of the morning that’s exactly what happened.
Great delivery Shannon!! But I enjoyed the entire over well planned out. We need more of those from all the bowlers.
— Brian Lara (@BrianLara) December 10, 2015
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WICKET! Australia 75-1 (Burns b Gabriel 33)
Bowled him! This is a beauty from Shannon Gabriel, and Joe Burns has gone for 33. It was bowled from slightly wider on the crease, and came back just enough off the seam to go through the gate and peg back the off stump.
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10th over: Australia 70-0 (Burns 29, Warner 39) A double bowling change, with the captain Jason Holder on for Kemar Roach. Oh for heaven’s sake. His third ball is utter filth, a wide half-volley that Warner drives through extra cover for four while getting down on one knee.
The bowling has been pathetic, but Warner in particular has batted ridiculously well. He gets his eighth boundary, and the 15th of the morning, by clattering a shorter ball through extra cover. He has 39 from 26 balls, a joyride without the danger.
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9th over: Australia 62-0 (Burns 29, Warner 31) Shannon Gabriel replaces Jerome Taylor (4-0-25-0). He has a strangled LBW shout first ball, with Burns inside-edging a good delivery back on to the pad. In fairness, he soon demonstrates some solidarity with his fellow fast bowlers by sending down some rubbish second ball. Burns square-drives it for the 947th boundary of the morning.
“I didn’t even need to watch the YouTube video, the start of the 1994 Brisbane Test is seared in my mind,” says Chris Langmead. “I recall groggily switching to page 341 on Ceefax in the small hours to see that Atherton and Thorpe were scoring heavily, only to have hope immediately crushed when it became apparent that Ceefax had transposed the team names, that Australia were batting and that Martin McCague was delivering bowling so tasty that Mark Taylor would start a modern trend of not enforcing the follow-on to enable another trip to the buffet. For all the JCLs, this is why we prayed for rain ...”
Even in the context of English cricket in the 1980s and 1990s, that morning was remarkably dispiriting. England promised to fight fire with fire, and then they turned a blowtorch on their own undercrackers.
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8th over: Australia 58-0 (Burns 25, Warner 31) Warner times Roach beautifully through mid-off for four to bring up the 50 partnership in only 46 balls. The next ball is swivel-pulled for four more, the 11th boundary of the morning. Make that 12, and three in a row, as Warner muscles another through the covers. He has 31 from 20 balls, and Roach has one of Test cricket’s more incongruous maidens in figures of 4-1-33-0.
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7th over: Australia 46-0 (Burns 25, Warner 19) There was swing for Taylor in the first over, but nothing much since then. Burns slams another smooth pull stroke for four, the ninth of the morning. This is too easy. At the current rate of scoring, Australia will be 591 for none at the close.
In other news, Channel Nine has just shown this catch as part of a competition to win a year’s supply of KFC. The reflexes on Viv!
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6th over: Australia 37-0 (Burns 19, Warner 16) West Indies’ pitch map so far is more Jackson Pollock than Shaun Pollock. Roach does get a third over, and beats Burns with a good delivery that moves away off the seam. Burns was groping a long way outside off stump. A better over from Roach: not just boundaryless, but runless too.
5th over: Australia 37-0 (Burns 19, Warner 16) At one stage on the 1978-79 Ashes tour, Geoff Boycott went more than 14 hours without hitting a boundary. Burns and Warner are barely going 14 seconds without hitting one. There have been eight in the first five overs, with Warner taking two more off Taylor via the medium of the cover-drive and the flick through midwicket.
For a 39-year-old thirtysomething England fan, this start to the series is bringing back a few memories. One in particular.
4th over: Australia 29-0 (Burns 19, Warner 8) Another wide half-volley from Roach, who is striving in vain for swing, is driven sweetly to the cover boundary by Burns. Australia are off to a flyer, and when Roach strays on to the pads he is touched to fine leg for four more.
This is poor stuff from Roach, and Burns makes it three boundaries in four balls by rifling another half-volley through the covers. “This is not acceptable,” says Ian Chappell on commentary. I don’t think Roach will get a third over; his figures are 2-0-21-0.
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3rd over: Australia 17-0 (Burns 7, Warner 8) Taylor decides to test the hardness of the pitch by banging in a short ball. He won’t be doing that again in a hurry. The ball sits up obligingly and Burns wallops a pull for four. Thereafter he goes fuller, and beats Burns with a nice delivery that comes back through the gate. He’s a fine bowler, Taylor, and it is such a shame that has only played 44 Tests in 12 years.
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Warner is dropped!
2nd over: Australia 12-0 (Burns 2, Warner 8) David Warner has mixed memories of Hobart, where he produced a futile masterpiece against New Zealand in 2011. That was the first of his 15 Test hundreds, 11 of which have been scored in two years since the start of the 2013-14 Ashes.
Kemar Roach also starts with a no-ball. His second legitimate delivery is full and wide; Warner does what Warner does, crunching it through extra cover for four. Roach is 27 now, although it only feels like a few weeks ago that he was roughing Ricky Ponting up.
He continues to bowl a very full length, and Warner is dropped! It was a desperately hard, low chance to the diving Ramdin – think Alec Stewart at Lords in 1995 – and he could only help it on its way for four. At the considerable risk of stating the bleedin’ obvious, Warner is not a man you want to drop.
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1st over: Australia 3-0 (Burns 2, Warner 0) Jerome Taylor, a fine bowler who skittled England for 51 six years ago, will take the first over. He starts with a no-ball, though he will be more interested in the fact that it swung. The rest of the over is very promising for the West Indies: Taylor has it moving both ways, and Burns offers no stroke to a ball that comes back and bounces not far over the stumps. Then he steers an awayswinger to third man for two to get off the mark.
@robsmyth0 man, all this naysaying about the windies. They hardly won't be worse than Proteas in the last tests, righto?
— Thilo Fobes (@ThiloFobes) December 9, 2015
I’m going to go out on a limb and say they definitely won’t lose this series more than 3-0.
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Kemar Roach and Jerome Taylor should get the ball to do a bit this morning. Though maybe not this much.
“I have to say I fear for the West Indies in this series,” says Phil. “If they play half as badly as they did in the warm-up game, a match played against what was basically a team of schoolboys, then all sorts of records will be in danger. In the best interests of the sport I hope I’m wrong.”
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Aussie win toss -Bat Patto in. @westindies Taylor, Roach,Holder should enjoy bowling on grassed hard pitch #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/H2C0fDyB3h
— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) December 9, 2015
Team news
James Pattinson returns to Test cricket for the first time since that unforgettable win over South Africa in March 2014. He replaces the injured Mitchell Starc.
Australia Burns, Warner, Smith (c), Voges, S Marsh, M Marsh, Nevill (wk), Pattinson, Siddle, Hazlewood, Lyon.
West Indies K Brathwaite, Chandrika, Darren Bravo, Samuels, Blackwood, Ramdin (wk), Holder (c), Roach, Taylor, Warrican, Gabriel.
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Australia have won the toss and will bat first and will probably score at least 500
It could be a long day for the West Indies, although their talented pace attack – the strongest part of the side – might enjoy themselves this morning on a slightly green pitch.
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Preamble
Hello. Ironic celebration of the 1990s is a popular pastime these days, but one or two things really were better at the end of the 20th century: music, film, life. And Test cricket. We didn’t realise it at the time but the 1990s was a golden age of Test cricket. Pretty much every country had a superb new-ball pair; leg spin was back, better than ever; a number of all-time great batsmen emerged or established themselves; and the balance between bat and ball was almost perfect.
The pinnacle of so much wonderful Test cricket was the battle for supremacy between Australia and the West Indies. It was so good that it made some of us in England get up early before school to watch it on Teletext. The story arc was cinematic to the point of cliche: Australia’s upstarts were taught a lesson in 1990-91, came heartbreakingly close to dethroning the West Indies in 1992-93, and then finally did so two years later. They confirmed their position as world No 1 in 1996-97, then just about escaped with a draw in a staggering series two years later, when Brian Lara played the greatest of his many great innings.
You could write a book on those five series. Actually, you could write a book on each of them. Until somebody does, you can get a pretty vivid flavour with this terrific piece from Jimmy Adams (in association with Scott Oliver).
The point of this unapologetic nostalgia is that MMMbop has just starting playing on my iPod, which is doubly odd as it’s not even on there Australia v West Indies is now something of an afterthought. Since that draw in 1998-99, Australia lead 19-1 in Tests and have won all seven series. The chances of West Indies stopping that run in this three-match series are on the non-existent side of slim.
Some say the Windies’ recent Test record overseas is a disgrace. It isn’t. It’s much, much worse than that. It’s eight years since they won a Test away to somebody other than Bangladesh or Zimbabwe, and 21 years since they won a series away to anybody other than the two minnows. It’s safe, and sad, to say that this series is a formality.
There are significant concerns about ticket sales, particularly for this first Test. But as always with Test cricket, there will be plenty to keep us interested, whether it’s David Warner bashing yet another hundred or Jason Holder reminding us that the West Indies still have some cricketers of substance. It just won’t be quite as good it was in the 1990s.
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Pre-preamble Rob Smyth will be here shortly to take you through the early stages in Hobart but in the meantime check out Tim Wigmore’s fascinating account of the current struggles in West Indies cricket or perhaps Russell Jackson’s chat with Southern Stars all-rounder Ellyse Perry. There’s also Andy Bull’s Spin column, which takes a look at the perverse pleasure of slow cricket.
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