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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Russell Jackson first up Jonathan Howcroft in the afternoon

Australia vs West Indies: day one of the Sydney Test - as it happened

Australian spinner Stephen O’Keefe celebrates taking his first Test wicket on home soil as West Indies reached 207-6 at stumps on day one of the Sydney Test.
Australian spinner Stephen O’Keefe celebrates taking his first Test wicket on home soil as West Indies reached 207-6 at stumps on day one of the Sydney Test. Photograph: Paul Miller/AAP

Don’t forget it’s an early start tomorrow with Russell Jackson on deck for the 10am resumption of play.

In the meantime there’s the second day of the second Test between South Africa and England to follow. Oh, and probably something to do with a boy eating a piece of fruit.

Stumps on day one - West Indies 207-6

Australia spun their way into a dominant position on a rain interrupted day in Sydney. After winning the toss Jason Holder’s decision to bat first looked to be a good one but a collapse from 104-1 to 159-6 and a couple of lengthy rain delays swung the game the way of the home side.

Nathan Lyon was the star, whirling through 32 overs of off spin for figures of 2/68. For the West Indies, Kraigg Brathwaite looked set for a composed century but succumbed 15 runs short.

Further rain delays are expected over the next two days, making the possibility of a result slim. However, the surface is spinning and bouncing considerably, suggesting Lyon could yet have a major say in the outcome of the game.

It was Nathan Lyon’s day at the SCG on the opening day of the Sydney Test.
It was Nathan Lyon’s day at the SCG on the opening day of the Sydney Test. Photograph: Jason Reed/Reuters

75th over: West Indies 207-6 (Ramdin 23, Brathwaite 35)

Strong finish from Brathwaite, smashing a long straight six and then a textbook square drive to dent O’Keefe’s figures.

Announcement that play is due to start at 10am tomorrow to make up the overs lost to the rain today.

74th over: West Indies 197-6 (Ramdin 23, Brathwaite 25)

Brathwaite’s energy at the crease has brought the West Indies back into this contest a little. Lyon looks tired (understandably) and Smith a little fidgety, instead of applying the patient methodology that earned the earlier flurry of wickets.

73rd over: West Indies 190-6 (Ramdin 18, Brathwaite 23)

Brathwaite unfurls an elegant off drive for four to add a memorable flourish to another O’Keefe over that gives the impression of a man rushing to catch a train.

72nd over: West Indies 185-6 (Ramdin 18, Brathwaite 18)

Lyon trying but failing to add to his two wickets in his 31st over of the day. Incredible first day effort from the finger spinner.

71st over: West Indies 184-6 (Ramdin 18, Brathwaite 17)

Into the final 15 minutes of the day and O’Keefe continues to power through his spell as if he needs to be home for his tea before dark or his mum will ground him.

70th over: West Indies 183-6 (Ramdin 18, Brathwaite 16)

Ramdin opens his shoulders a little this over, driving Lyon through the covers for two and then sweeping for four.

69th over: West Indies 177-6 (Ramdin 12, Brathwaite 16)

Brathwaite adopting a pretty simple plan to the spinners, blocking everything he’s unsure of and slog sweeping to the square leg boundary when he can. Looks tidy for a bowling allrounder.

68th over: West Indies 171-6 (Ramdin 12, Brathwaite 10)

The pace this pair are bowling it’s hard to find the time to type a cogent thought. Lyon finds the top edge of Ramdin’s bat but his slog sweep falls safely behind square on the leg side.

Updated

67th over: West Indies 169-6 (Ramdin 10, Brathwaite 10)

O’Keefe is rattling through his overs and aside from a powerfully swept four from Brathwaite there are hastily assembled dot balls.

Updated

66th over: West Indies 165-6 (Ramdin 10, Brathwaite 6)

Lyon’s 28th over is his 11th maiden.

Updated

65th over: West Indies 165-6 (Ramdin 10, Brathwaite 6)

It was the West Indies’ morning but Australia are now firmly in the driving seat thanks to those two quick wickets. Carlos Brathwaite opens his account with a lusty six straight over the bowler’s head but this is all about the pressure brought about by Australia’s dual spin attack.

WICKET! Holder c Burns b O'Keefe 1 (West Indies 159-6)

Stunning catch at short leg by Joe Burns. Holder middled a leg glance but Burns held his position, stuck out his right paw and clung on to give O’Keefe his first wicket on home soil.

Joe Burns holds on to a terrific catch on day one of the Sydney Test at the SCG.
Joe Burns holds on to a terrific catch on day one of the Sydney Test at the SCG. Photograph: Jason Reed/Reuters

Updated

64th over: West Indies 159-5 (Ramdin 10, Holder 1)

Lyon causing allsorts of mischief for Jason Holder. Big off-spinners from around the wicket are forcing the lanky batsman to come forward but he’s not happy making bold movements with this much turn and bounce on offer.

63rd over: West Indies 158-5 (Ramdin 10, Holder 0)

Rapid maiden from O’Keefe. Like watching Adrian Lewis.

WICKET! Brathwaite c Smith b Lyon 85 (West Indies 158-5)

62nd over: West Indies 158-5 (Ramdin 10, Holder 0)

Lyon finding some purchase around the wicket and it eventually pays dividends with the big wicket of Brathwaite. The final delivery of the over pops up, Brathwaite indecisive with a flirtatious stroke outside off stump, the ball ricochets of the gloves and loops to Smith in the cordon. Soft dismissal for an untroubled batsman on his way to a century. Huge breakthrough for Australia.

Updated

61st over: West Indies 156-4 (Brathwaite 84, Ramdin 9)

Skipper Smith whingeing about the wet ball to the umpires. I’d presume Ian Gould would have a Cockney quip or two on hand to remind him about the earlier weather, or perhaps this zinger from Zoolander.

Maiden for O’Keefe.

Moisture, the essence of wetness.

60th over: West Indies 156-4 (Brathwaite 84, Ramdin 9)

Brathwaite moves into the 80s with a gorgeous off drive, sending the ball skidding off the wet turf all the way to the boundary. Lyon not looking as threatening since the second rain break.

59th over: West Indies 149-4 (Brathwaite 78, Ramdin 8)

Michael Clarke adopting the role of Banquo’s Ghost in the commentary box, questioning Steve Smith continuing with O’Keefe and not bringing one of his quicks back. West Indies keeping things ticking over slowly as the game loses its sting with all these delays.

58th over: West Indies 147-4 (Brathwaite 76, Ramdin 8)

Lyon returning to his post. He always looks a little dishevelled and grubby doesn’t he? Smudges of dirt and grass on his whites, a 5 o’clock shadow, fading zinc cream across the bridge of his nose. Doing a smashing job for his country regardless, spinning big offies from outside the off stump into the right handed batsmen.

Play restarts

57th over: West Indies 145-4 (Brathwaite 75, Ramdin 7)

Play has been revised to a minimum of 66 overs, to be bowled by 6.30pm.

O’Keefe completes his rain-interrupted over without much fuss. Plenty of towels among the Australian fielders, trying to keep the Kookaburra as dry as possible.

Update: The rain has stopped and there is optimism play could resume as early as 5.35pm.

Still raining in Sydney and with plenty of rain forecast over the next few days it will be difficult for either side to force a result.

While we’re waiting for the skies to clear, take a look at the trailer for the much talked about Death of a Gentleman. The movie by Jarrod Kimber and Sam Collins has been circulating in the UK for a while and it has now made it to Australian shores with screenings mushrooming around the country.

Giles Clarke’s hagiography.

No word yet on how long we’ll be off for but it’s still raining, the covers are on the entire square at the SCG and the floodlights are illuminating a pretty glum scene.

Updates as they arrive, but a good time to put the kettle on and watch Nathan Lyon’s dismissal of Jermaine Blackwood on repeat.

Rain stopped play

57th over: West Indies 144-4 (Brathwaite 75, Ramdin 6)

It’s been drizzling for a while and despite the best intentions of the umpires the players have finally come from the field. It should be just a short delay with a shower blowing through.

56th over: West Indies 143-4 (Brathwaite 74, Ramdin 6)

Some excellent fielding from O’Keefe can’t prevent an all-run four for Ramdin. Sweetly timed cover drive and one of the few authoritative shots off Lyon’s bowling. Lyon alternating between over and around the wicket, perhaps trying a touch too hard to find another magic delivery.

55th over: West Indies 138-4 (Brathwaite 73, Ramdin 2)

O’Keefe replaces Hazlewood and he races through an ODI-type over, throwing left-arm darts from around the wicket into the right-handed Ramdin. Nowhere near the turn and bounce of Lyon yet for his spin partner. Another maiden.

Stephen O’Keefe bowls in his first international on Australian soil at the SCG.
Stephen O’Keefe bowls in his first international on Australian soil at the SCG. Photograph: Steve Christo/Corbis

Updated

54th over: West Indies 138-4 (Brathwaite 73, Ramdin 2)

Brathwaite handling Lyon with aplomb. Getting forward and smothering anything full outside off but then riding anything shorter that spins and tickling it behind leg. Another maiden for Lyon who has first day figures of 22 overs 1/35.

More rain at the SCG but the umpires are keeping the players on, for now.

Updated

53rd over: West Indies 138-4 (Brathwaite 73, Ramdin 2)

Hazlewood keeping the batsmen honest but not a lot doing out there for the young quick. He’s had a moderate summer all told, not finding as much seam or swing as he needs to look consistently threatening at the highest level.

52nd over: West Indies 137-4 (Brathwaite 72, Ramdin 2)

Lyon starts around the wicket to Brathwaite, not really sure why considering the Blackwood dismissal. There we go, back over now, but a single brings Ramdin on strike. Home track, ideal conditions, this is fill-your-boots time for Nathan Lyon.

51st over: West Indies 136-4 (Brathwaite 71, Ramdin 2)

Hazlewood’s bowling his heart out but everyone’s just watching replays of that Lyon delivery to Blackwood. If that hadn’t have spun it would have been a one-day wide, instead Blackwood turns his body as the ball darts back in and is practically facing the wrong way as the bails tinkle to the floor. Glorious stuff.

Keep it together Russell.

WICKET! Blackwood b Lyon 10 (West Indies 131-4)

50th over: West Indies 132-4 (Brathwaite 68, Ramdin 1)

Lyon has looked likely all day and he finally gets his reward. Over the wicket to Blackwood he tosses one wide and watches it turn and bounce and disturb the top of off stump with the batsman not offering a stroke. There’ll be a few more dismissals like that this Test you fancy. Top bowling.

Nathan Lyon celebrates the wicket of Jermaine Blackwood on the first day of the Sydney Test.
Nathan Lyon celebrates the wicket of Jermaine Blackwood on the first day of the Sydney Test. Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Updated

49th over: West Indies 130-3 (Brathwaite 67, Blackwood 10)

Josh Hazlewood into the attack and he immediately finds a parsimonious line and length. West Indies playing everything from the crease at the moment, only looking to expand against the rankest deliveries. Another maiden.

48th over: West Indies 130-3 (Brathwaite 67, Blackwood 10)

Lyon around the wicket to Brathwaite but the opener looks adept at dealing with this line even with the ball spinning as prodigiously as it is. Doesn’t look too interested in scoring many runs though. Another maiden.

47th over: West Indies 130-3 (Brathwaite 67, Blackwood 10)

Positive batting from Blackwood, driving a full wide Pattinson half-volley to the cover point boundary.

Bill Lawry suggests Pattinson has an action similar to John Snow. Nine’s GoT fans look at each and scratch their heads in disbelief.

No, not the 49-Test English seamer.

46th over: West Indies 125-3 (Brathwaite 66, Blackwood 6)

Three men around the bat for Lyon to Blackwood and what feels like just self preservation for the batsman changes with a long-hop that’s smited to the square leg boundary, inches away from umpire Chris Gaffaney.

Updated

45th over: West Indies 121-3 (Brathwaite 66, Blackwood 2)

Blackwood punches the first runs off the bat since the resumption but he and Brathwaite are content just to see off Pattinson for now.

Updated

44th over: West Indies 118-3 (Brathwaite 66, Blackwood 0)

Something is happening with every Lyon delivery. He’s bowling over the wicket to the right handed batsmen and ripping it sharply from outside off stump. A series of defensive prods, smothers and inside edges deny Australia’s minstrel a wicket but you fancy a bag isn’t far away.

Updated

43rd over: West Indies 118-3 (Brathwaite 66, Blackwood 0)

James Pattinson steaming in from the Paddington end and he looks fired up today, hitting the crease hard and generating some heat. Most of the Australian side are within chirruping distance of Blackwood at the crease. Not the most hospitable place to be right now but the West Indies see out a maiden.

James Pattinson tearing in at the SCG.
James Pattinson tearing in at the SCG. Photograph: Steve Christo/Corbis

Updated

Play restarts

42nd over: West Indies 118-3 (Brathwaite 66, Blackwood 0)

Nathan Lyon completes his rain-interrupted over and there’s spiteful turn and bounce immediately. Lyon rips a beauty through Jermaine Blackwood that turns through the gate, over middle stump and past Peter Nevill for byes.

Updated

So, let’s recap. West Indies will resume at 115/3 with Kraigg Brathwaite unbeaten on 66 and Jermaine Blackwood yet to face a ball. The tourists were cruising at lunch and at 104/1 early in the afternoon session seemed set for a challenging first innings total. However, a miscued pull form Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuel’s lackadaisical running have swung the game in Australia’s direction.

There’s plenty of turn and bounce in the pitch for the spinners and you get the sense Nathan Lyon could be Australia’s main weapon as this Test evolves. With a bit of juice in the pitch courtesy of the rain delay James Pattinson could also be a handful over the next half-hour or so. He looked lively before the rain delay, nudging 150kph despite the drag of a dubious soul patch.

Update: 4pm restart with a target of 77 overs for the day in total in two-and-a-half hours.

Updated

There’ll be an inspection in about 15 minutes but things are looking good. The wicket has been uncovered, the Super Sopper is living up to its name and the forecast is dry.

I reckon we’ll be back underway not long after 4pm for a lengthy evening session. Play can continue until 7pm if required. 48.3 overs remain in the schedule.

Don’t forget you can tweet me @JPHowcroft or email at jonathan.howcroft.freelance@guardian.co.uk if you have any ideas on how we can get through this damp patch.

A peek inside Australia’s dressing room and the Spotify playlist.

Literally raining on a parade...

Thanks very much Russell. Warnie in a du-rag, who said rain breaks were an inconvenience?

The news from the SCG is that Tea has been taken, rain has abated, and the ultra-optimistic view is that play could restart in 45 minutes. I’ll keep you posted.

That’s it from me

The rain continues to fall at the SCG but JP Howcroft, who’ll take you through the rest of the afternoon, is a dab hand with those BOM charts and assures me that there’ll be some play. That or he just wants to join in with some Warnie pics. Here’s one last example from me, which I hope will prompt sunshine and happiness in Sydney.

Shane Warne about to hang ten during Australia’s 1995 tour of the West Indies.
Shane Warne about to hang ten during Australia’s 1995 tour of the West Indies. Photograph: Ben Radford/Getty Images

The outlook is grim

This from the ground:

Yes, it’s still raining

Do I keep punishing you with Warnie photos or change gears? JP Howcroft is due soon. No doubt he’ll class things up a little in the afternoon.

Snoop Warne

What was going on here? Steve Waugh once said he knew they had England’s number during the 2001 Ashes when Usman Afzaal showed up for a game driving sports star. Did he try and strangle Warnie with this durag?

Shane Warne during the 2001 Ashes series.
Shane Warne during the 2001 Ashes series. Photograph: Hamish Blair/Getty Images

The rain has really set in now at the SCG

So much so that the home broadcaster is showing highlights from the World Cup final. Hmm. We might not get much more cricket in today, sadly. I guess I’ll just have to continue trawling for Warnie pics.

Mark Waugh, Shane Warne, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh chilling out on the Gold Coast in 1997.
Mark Waugh, Shane Warne, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh chilling out on the Gold Coast in 1997. Photograph: Getty Images

The Warne Ultimatum

Okay, I have absolutely no idea of the context of this shot but does that really matter?

Shane Warne strikes a pose in 2001.
Shane Warne strikes a pose in 2001. Photograph: John Reardon for the Guardian

Err, scrap that. There’s more rain.

And dark clouds hover ominously around the ground. The outlook is bleak for the entire week. How about I go and trawl the image library and come back with some more S.K. Warne magic? Okay, if you insist.

Updated

Looks like we’ll have some play shortly

In four minutes, in fact.

While we have the chance...

And the rain has now stopped...let’s just revel in the majesty of Shane Warne’s debut Test appearance in Sydney 24 years ago this week, in which he made the bold fashion choice of teaming his lucky white trousers with the team-issue creams. And those ear discs... Brilliant.

Shane Warne in action during his Test debut against India at the SCG in January 1992.
Shane Warne in action during his Test debut against India at the SCG in January 1992. Photograph: Getty Images

It’s bucketing down at the SCG

And this looks very bleak indeed. I fear I’ll soon be reaching for the highlights of Lara’s 277.

Rain stopped play!

With Samuels trudging back to the pavilion there’s now rain coming down in Sydney and the players are called off. Samuels timed that horrible, it’s safe to say. I didn’t notice it at first but Brathwaite also dropped his bat. What a shambles. They both played their role in that one but I sense Brathwaite was correct to save his own skin and the original non-call was Samuels’s. There was never a run there.

Updated

WICKET! Samuels run out (Hazlewood) 4 (West Indies 115-3)

It’s a calamity for Marlon Samuels, who runs himself out in dramatic style! What the hell was going on there? He steps back to Lyon, cuts towards Josh Hazlewood at point and just takes off. Understandably Brathwaite is having none of it so Samuels is run out in truly dismal style. “Too cool for school is Shane Warne’s take” on the Samuels approach. Surprising to note that he’s not a fan. Rubbing salt into the wounds, rain is now tumbling down at the SCG.

Remarkably enough it was the standing Marlon Samuels (left) and not the grounded Kraigg Brathwaite who was run out here.
Remarkably enough it was the standing Marlon Samuels (left) and not the grounded Kraigg Brathwaite who was run out here. Photograph: Ryan Pierse - CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images

Updated

41st over: West Indies 115-2 (Brathwaite 66, Samuels 4)

For a reasonably competent, run-scoring Test batsman, Kraigg Brathwaite does have an unnerving tendency to play shots that make him look like a park cricket third-grader, as is the case when he slaps the returning Josh Hazlewood past mid-off to start this over. Hazlewood’s fuming further when Brathwaite edges four through the gap between the cordon and gully and Marlon Samuels rubs it in by giving his lucky partner a fist bump.

40th over: West Indies 109-2 (Brathwaite 60, Samuels 4)

With the departure of Bravo the Australians have well and truly applied the clamps and there’s real confusion between Brathwaite and Samuels when the former gets a quick single out to cover. Did Nathan Lyon twinge his hamstring as he slipped in the process of fielding that? He looks a little ginger but nonetheless continues with his over and ties up Samuels.

Well, he’s not in Shannon Noll territory but I do sense it myself, JP.

39th over: West Indies 108-2 (Brathwaite 59, Samuels 4)

Much like he did with Bravo, James Pattinson is really testing Samuels with the short ball because there’s a perception that he doesn’t like ‘em whistling past his ears these days. The local broadcaster quite cruelly flashes up Samuels’ scores from the series, which read like a 1950s Australian phone number in their lack of digits.

38th over: West Indies 108-2 (Brathwaite 59, Samuels 4)

Nathan Lyon is bowling a treat in this over and beats Kraigg Brathwaite all ends up with his penultimate delivery, which jags in past the edge and somehow misses the stumps as well.

37th over: West Indies 108-2 (Brathwaite 59, Samuels 4)

Marlon Samuels was described earlier in the day by Mark Nicholas as “a class act”, so we can’t rule out the possibility that the West Indies veteran has spent his morning offering the Nine commentary team back rubs. As it stands he’s looking decidedly awkward in the early stages of his innings but Pattinson eventually angles one across his pads and the batsman clips it off his legs for a boundary to deep square leg, even if he’s falling to the off side a little.

Australia’s James Pattinson in full flight at the SCG.
Australia’s James Pattinson in full flight at the SCG. Photograph: Paul Miller/AAP

36th over: West Indies 104-2 (Brathwaite 59, Samuels 0)

This Lyon over starts with a throaty appeal for a short leg catch from Joe Burns when Brathwaite shuffles forward but Lyon himself doesn’t go up, so it’s not taken too seriously. Burns is at short leg and again Mitch Marsh patrols the edge of the pitch at short mid-on, but the rest of the over passes without incident.

Voices of dissent are now appearing. Is Watermelon Boy’s reign over? Will he be callously replaced by a new internet sensation within 24 hours?

35th over: West Indies 104-2 (Brathwaite 59, Samuels 0)

Marlon Samuels is the new man at the crease and there’s some nervy prodding as he sees off the last two deliveries of the Pattinson over but that he does. Okay, this is getting out of control now:

WICKET! Bravo c Khawaja b Pattinson 33 (West Indies 104-2)

35th over: West Indies 104-2 (Brathwaite 59)

This over started in frustrating fashion for Pattinson, who squared Brathwaite up beautifully but watched on in frustration as the edge flew away through the vacant third slip region and thudded into the fence, but a few balls later he flings down a well-directed bouncer and not for the first time, Bravo flinches in his attempted pull, taking his eyes off the ball as he skies a catch out to Khawaja in the deep. The latter moved in smartly to take that and there’s a moment of consternation as the third umpire checks for the no ball but Bravo’s on his way!

The awkward stroke that lead to the demise of West Indies batsman Darren Bravo.
The awkward stroke that lead to the demise of West Indies batsman Darren Bravo. Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

34th over: West Indies 99-1 (Brathwaite 54, Bravo 33)

Nathan Lyon pairs with Pattinson to start with and he’s extracting sharp turn again but Brathwaite is happy to shift his weight onto the back foot and cut a couple past point when it’s turning in close to his off stump. Lyon’s getting a little shirty with his lack of wickets, I sense.

33rd over: West Indies 94-1 (Brathwaite 51, Bravo 33)

Okay, we’re under way in the second session and Darren Bravo turns a mis-directed short ball from Pattinson down towards fine leg for a single and Kraigg Brathwaite does too when the burly Victorian strays again. It’s another archetype of the early-spell Patto over; all over the shop but nothing too disastrous. Novelty point: somebody pinch a set of bails in the lunch break so for that entire over there was none at the bowler’s end.

Shane Warne is doing the unthinkable

Yes, he’s actually talking about leg-spin.

Another cricket issue today

How is this for uptake of the Women’s Big Bash League? Sensational. This goes to show the power of a couple of things: the game at large and where it sits within the hearts of Australians and secondly the power of free-to-air commercial TV coverage.

There’s plenty of T20 cynics out there but the fact remains that millions of Australians are watching cricket every night of the summer. Sure there’s nothing else on but this is brilliant for the game at large. Dunno about you, but as a 5-year-old I wasn’t drawn to cricket by Tests but ODIs. A generation of kids are having that same lightbulb moment via the Bash, something for which we should have plenty of cheer.

Lunch on day one - West Indies 92-1 and cruising

32nd over: West Indies 92-1 (Brathwaite 50, Bravo 32)

It’s Marsh who bowls the last over before lunch and while he was sending it through at searing pace in Melbourne, this over’s more of the dibbly-dobbly variety so Brathwaite negotiates it without trouble to go to the pavilion with his wicket in tow. He and Bravo really weathered the early storm there and did well to handle Nathan Lyon’s sharp spin. I’m off for a quick bite to eat but will rejoin you soon.

Kraigg Brathwaite of West Indies has started positively to post a half-century before lunch on day one at the SCG.
Kraigg Brathwaite of West Indies has started positively to post a half-century before lunch on day one at the SCG. Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

31st over: West Indies 92-1 (Brathwaite 50, Bravo 32)

I’m not so sure about this from Steve O’Keefe and his captain. He’s just pursuing a leg stump line to Bravo and that means that short leg is the only man in play and even he’s not exactly sweating given O’Keefe’s lack of spin. Report card from this over: Steven capable of much better. C+.

Kraigg Brathwaite brings up fifty!

30th over: West Indies 92-1 (Brathwaite 50, Bravo 32)

Perhaps wisely, Steve Smith gives Lyon a rest and throws the ball to Mitch Marsh in the hope of a late breathrough before lunch. Marsh doesn’t get it and what’s more, Brathwaite cracks him for four backward of point and then two to bring up his half-century and a pleasing one at that. He faced 75 balls and has attacked at every opportunity with his seven boundaries.

29th over: West Indies 86-1 (Brathwaite 44, Bravo 32)

Wowsers. Brathwaite cuts O’Keefe late to pick up one here but he was dicing with danger because with a little drift in to the right-hander it actually struck his pad first, marginally outside the line of off stump but close enough to give the spinner some incentive. A few balls later he drops short to Bravo and gets creamed through point for a boundary.

It’s a phenomenon.

28th over: West Indies 81-1 (Brathwaite 43, Bravo 28)

They’re 90-second overs at the moment with both spinners on, so you’ll have to excuse me if I miss the odd ball or two. Brathwaite’s after Lyon again in this over and picks up four with a big heave over mid wicket. He’s really taking it to the Aussies in this series.

27th over: West Indies 76-1 (Brathwaite 38, Bravo 28)

Steve O’Keefe takes off his baggy green and hands it to the umpire and we’ll have twin spin for the first time in the game. He’s full and straight to Bravo and not generating the type of spin Lyon’s managed, but Brathwaite almost gets an inside edge towards the man at fine leg from the final delivery of the over. It squirts a little finer for a single amid much oohing and ahhing.

Updated

26th over: West Indies 75-1 (Brathwaite 37, Bravo 28)

There’s a lot more fluency about Darren Bravo now and he’s looking every bit as solid as he was in that long stay in Melbourne. There’s two through cover and he shapes to belt a wide tempter from Lyon at the end of the over but resists the urge because lunch is just around the corner and there’s no need for anything rash.

Darren Bravo has started well again at the SCG.
Darren Bravo has started well again at the SCG. Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Updated

25th over: West Indies 72-1 (Brathwaite 36, Bravo 26)

Big Haze is getting a little more carry in this over and decking it away from the left-handed Bravo in search of an edge. Meanwhile, I would personally watch an X Factor style Mullet Boy vs Watermelon Boy showdown, even if it was pay-per-view.

24th over: West Indies 71-1 (Brathwaite 35, Bravo 26)

Perhaps it’s time to give Steve O’Keefe a trundle. Again Lyon dots it up before Bravo picks his mark and slogs a boundary out towards cow. It wasn’t anything to match the drive from the spinner’s previous over but it does the job.

23rd over: West Indies 67-1 (Brathwaite 35, Bravo 22)

Hazlewood is not exactly slapping it into Nevill’s gloves at the moment but Brathwaite plays the waiting game until he’s got enough width to steer a streaky boundary past the cordon. He was perhaps a little lucky there. Why haven’t any of you GIF-makers gone to work on that Bravo drive? I need to be alone with that thing...

22nd over: West Indies 63-1 (Brathwaite 31, Bravo 22)

More of the same from Lyon until he drops just fractionally short and Bravo revives memories of that Lara 277 by shuffling back quickly and driving exquisitely off the back foot to pick up a boundary through the vacant cover region. That was utterly gorgeous. I’m off to find a Vine of that. The partnership between these two is now worth 50.

Updated

21st over: West Indies 59-1 (Brathwaite 31, Bravo 18)

Perhaps there hasn’t been a shedload of positives to come from this tour for Jason Holder’s side but the form of Kraigg Brathwaite has certainly been one. He starts this over from the returning Josh Hazlewood beautifully, sending a commanding cover drive out to the rope for four. He’s got half an hour more to negotiate before the lunch break.

Kraigg Brathwaite has been a shining light for the West Indies as they’ve struggled through this Australian tour.
Kraigg Brathwaite has been a shining light for the West Indies as they’ve struggled through this Australian tour. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

20th over: West Indies 55-1 (Brathwaite 27, Bravo 18)

A maiden to Lyon, who has settled into a holding pattern now and looks good to spin away for the rest of the afternoon. Do Australians rate him highly enough for his wonderful output? My sense is no but I guess he has a certain cultish appeal and the numbers really don’t lie.

19th over: West Indies 55-1 (Brathwaite 27, Bravo 18)

Whack! Marsh is short and wide outside off stump to Brathwaite and the opener cashes in, unleashing a full-blooded cut shot to the left of the man at point to earn himself four. This hasn’t been terrible from the Windies. They’re in the game at the moment.

Updated

18th over: West Indies 49-1 (Brathwaite 22, Bravo 17)

Lyon’s operating with two men at bat pad and Marsh stationed right next to the pitch at short mid-on for Brathwaite, but somehow he manages to glance one fine for a single without bringing any of them into play. To Bravo there’s still two slips and the short leg in place and he’s appropriately watchful.

17th over: West Indies 48-1 (Brathwaite 21, Bravo 17)

Mitchell Marsh now appears for his first trundle of the morning and without Peter Siddle in the side he’ll have to shoulder a heavier load in this game. As he winds up there’s a moving moment when the local broadcaster pans to Daphne Benaud in the SCG Trust viewing area. Is someone chopping onions? Sheesh. She’s a doyen of the game herself, Mrs Benaud. She was once E.W. Swanton’s secretary, for starters. Marsh’s first over is a little lower on pace than his MCG efforts – low 130s as he works his way into proceedings – but it’s tidy enough.

Watermelon Boy clearly has a publicist already.

16th over: West Indies 45-1 (Brathwaite 19, Bravo 16)

Steve Smith has liked what he’s seen in Nathan Lyon’s early efforts to Darren Bravo so brings a second slip into place. Bravo negotiates a maiden but he’s clearly not confident against the sharply turning ball. Unless my eyes are playing tricks on me the lights are on at the SCG, too.

15th over: West Indies 45-1 (Brathwaite 19, Bravo 16)

My gut feel at the moment is that despite gaining an honourable loss with their patient batting in Melbourne, it’s the right move for this pair to be looking to score more often on this turning pitch. It means they’ve reached the first drinks break at a healthy run rate of 3.0

West Indies batsman Kraigg Braithwaite ducks a bouncer earlier in the morning.
West Indies batsman Kraigg Braithwaite ducks a bouncer earlier in the morning. Photograph: Jason Reed/Reuters

14th over: West Indies 43-1 (Brathwaite 17, Bravo 16)

Brathwaite’s refusing to sit back to Lyon now and skips down the wicket with some flair to loft four more to the fence at long-on. They need to get after the spinner, you’d think, or else he’ll just settle into a groove like he did in Melbourne, suffocating the tourists of scoring chances.

13th over: West Indies 38-1 (Brathwaite 12, Bravo 16)

Sorry folks, just having a few technical difficulties here but as my computer is going in to meltdown, James Pattinson is finding far more probing ‘areas’ and might soon bring his extensive cordon into play. By the final delivery of the over Bravo’s had enough and swipes lustily with a big pull shot that races away to the rope at cow corner.

12th over: West Indies 34-1 (Brathwaite 12, Bravo 12)

Now Lyon gets a better look at Brathwaite and again he’s turning it square to zero in towards the batsman’s off stump and David Warner is hovering close by at leg slip. I’m sure he’s biting his tongue as well as both batsmen pick up a single.

11th over: West Indies 32-1 (Brathwaite 11, Bravo 11)

Hmm, Hazlewood has a rest but it’s not Marsh of O’Keefe to replace him but James Pattinson from the Member’s End, where he’s obviously hoping for a little more success. That leg gully is back for Bravo too, plus two on the conventional side. Pattinson digs a bouncer into the turf and it doesn’t look that hard to hangle by Bravo makes it look so, turning his face away and somehow managing to dead-bat it. Did it jag in a little?

Bravo recovers well by playing a classical straight drive to the fence at wide long-off and then goes squarer with another from the next ball. He’s gone from fragile to imperious in the blink of an eye.

10th over: West Indies 23-1 (Brathwaite 10, Bravo 3)

Oof, this is off-spin pornography now as Lyon continues to Bravo. He’s jagging it away from the outside edge at right angles and the batsman looks a little nervy as a result. “The Revenant is what its called - get stuck into it” concludes James Brayshaw at the end of the Lyon over. He’s talking about a Leonardo DiCaprio film, apparently. Roger Ebert eat yer heart out.

Updated

9th over: West Indies 23-1 (Brathwaite 10, Bravo 3)

Josh Hazlewood continues for now and Brathwaite gets two with a slightly streaky square drive. That’s all she wrote for the over and he’ll perhaps have one or two more before O’Keefe or Marsh are given their first go.

Updated

8th over: West Indies 21-1 (Brathwaite 8, Bravo 3)

Orright, some early spin! Nathan Lyon is thrown the ball now and he’s got a short leg and a slip in place as he wheels away to Darren Bravo. Already he’s getting appreciable turn and angling it in beautifully to the left-hander and I get the sense he’s going to want to roll this pitch up and take it around the world with him by game’s end. He finishes the over by gripping and ripping one past Bravo’s outside edge. Steve O’Keefe will be licking his lips too after that start.

Not sure we’re in for a repeat dose but this is a pleasant memory:

Updated

7th over: West Indies 21-1 (Brathwaite 8, Bravo 3)

Kraigg Brathwaite gets moving now, striding forward confidently and punching a confident drive to the fence at long off. Hazlewood is undeterred and continues to pursue a full and straight bowling plan. Ooh, maybe not. Brathwaite’s caught completely off guard by a bouncer from the over’s fourth delivery and is forced to hastily evade it. He survives.

Updated

6th over: West Indies 17-1 (Brathwaite 4, Bravo 3)

There’s two slips, two gullies, a short leg and a leg gully in place as Pattinson moves in to Bravo, indicating that he’s going to receive a shorter length from the pacemen than his colleagues, but four balls into the over the leg gully is removed, so perhaps not.

Pattinson has a moment of misfortunate when he’s called for a no ball next up, because his foot actually landed behind the line but with a bit of moisture in the pitch it slid a good 6 inches forward in his delivery stride. He can only blame himself for the reputation he’s gathering though and having watched him bowl them time after time in the nets, I struggle to find it surprising. That extra is the only score of the over.

The Australian huddle earlier.
The Australian huddle earlier. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

5th over: West Indies 16-1 (Brathwaite 4, Bravo 3)

Darren Bravo was a model of obduracy in Melbourne but he’s off to a sparkling, Lara-esque start here when he essays a lovely cover drive out close to the boundary for three. His first ball was a little nervy though. Hazlewood swung it in and Bravo offered no shot, letting it rap him on the pads. He’ll want to avoid that given the length the Aussies are bowling.

WICKET! Hope c Nevill b Hazlewood 9 (West Indies 13-1)

Forget everything I just said about Shai Hope. Hazlewood’s pitched one up outside the line of off stump and the returning West Indian opener has just lunged at it, feathering a nick through to Nevill behind the stumps. 85 years ago the Windies won this Test – their first victory in Australia – when their captain Jackie Grant inserted the home side twice after rain had come. The best Jason Holder can probably hope for here is a monsoon that rules out cricket altogether.

West Indies batsman Shai Hope trudges off the SCG after falling to Australian paceman Josh Hazlewood.
West Indies batsman Shai Hope trudges off the SCG after falling to Australian paceman Josh Hazlewood. Photograph: Jason Reed/Reuters

Updated

4th over: West Indies 13-0 (Brathwaite 4, Hope 9)

Shai Hope’s Test average of 16.8 perhaps doesn’t bode well but he’s started very well today and crunches another cover drive for three when Pattinson strays very wide outside off stump. Ian Healy says it’s courageous batting, perhaps in an attempt to troll Dean Jones or perhaps just because he likes opening his mouth and seeing what random combination of words will tumble out next.

3rd over: West Indies 10-0 (Brathwaite 4, Hope 6)

There’s a definite ploy by the Aussies here to keep the ball very full but Hazlewood errs with the first delivery of this over when he’s a little too straight and Brathwaite whips him wide of mid-wicket for three and Hope repeats the dose off the over’s final delivery. This is a bright start from the Windies, even if a few dark clouds hover over the grand old ground.

I think they mean ‘unusually’ but this is interesting:

2nd over: West Indies 4-0 (Brathwaite 1, Hope 3)

Shai Hope press forward to James Pattinson’s first delivery and gets off the mark in slightly unusual style, clattering a drive out towards mid off where Steve O’Keefe, playing in his first home Test, misfields in his dive to concede three. Brathwaite also drives to pick up one and get himself off the mark. It’s not a rip-roaring start from Pattinson but that’s nothing unusual. It often takes him a ropey few overs to hit his range.

1st over: West Indies 0-0 (Brathwaite 0, Hope 0)

Okay, we’re off and away. Josh Hazlewood slowly cranks the gears to get going fort his first delivery of the day and its a wide length ball that wobbles away with appreciable out-swing. Sorry to focus on the commentary so much, but there’s a bit of novelty value today because Bill Lawry is in the box. I thought he was only doing MCG game now? Anyway, he’s still talking about Melbourne, bless him. There should be statues of him everywhere in his home town.

Anyway, Hazlewood is full and straight to Brathwaite in this maiden and looks to be bowling to a plan in that regard. The wonky and artless thrust of Brathwaite’s blade to keep ‘em all out suggests he might be on to something. Teammates circle him like seagulls at the end of the over. They know a fresh chip when they see one.

We’re five minutes from the opening delivery of the Test

And the players now swap their pink Jane McGrath Foundation caps for the baggy green and it’s chest bumps all round for the Aussies. “I haven’t missed picking up a bat” says Michael Clarke. I think that statement was prompted by someone else’s questioning but can’t be certain.

As the Welcome to country and anthems commence

...an update from a kind reader, who has sent me this link that appears to confirm Clive James’ approval of the term ‘rissoled’. Warnie probably loves Clive’s work, I’m sure.

Now all we need is for Cricket Australia to fly Watermelon Boy up for the Test and Warne will be able to talk about food for the entire Test.

Preamble

Michael Clarke has appeared on Australian TV screens now talking about yacht racing, which can mean only one thing: yes, the Sydney Test is upon us. Russell Jackson here to take you through it blow by blow until JP Howcroft arrives after tea. Have Clarke and Simon Katich scrapped out the back of the commentary area yet? I guess we’ll have updates throughout the day on that note. I stood behind Shane Warne as he selected his party pies last week at the MCG, so I’m something of an expert analyst on these matters.

Anyway and as I’ve already noted, something has finally gone against the Aussies here with Jason Holder winning the toss and having a bat, but I sense that today – weather permitting – we’re going to see a little more that will tell us whether Mitchell Marsh really can be a bona fide third pace bowling option. Michael Clarke is currently espousing his virtues like an Amway salesman. Shane Warne is worried that if Darren Bravo doesn’t perform, the tourists will be “rissoled very quickly”. Translations to the contact details above please.

Meanwhile, at the SCG...

Jason Holder wins the toss and West Indies bat first

Hello folks, I’ll be back with a proper preamble shortly but thought it best to let you know that the West Indies will bat first at the SCG. Steve Smith’s not exactly rapt with that, having brought the second spinner Steve O’Keefe into the side, but you don’t always get what you want.

We’re due for rain today in Sydney but here’s hoping they stay out there for most of the day. Shai Hope comes in to the Windies line-up to replace the injured Rajendra Chandrika and O’Keefe for Siddle is the only change for the Aussies.

Our teams

Australia: Warner, Burns, Khawaja, Smith (c), Voges, Marsh, Nevill, O’Keefe, Hazlewood, Pattinson, Lyon

West Indies: K Brathwaite, Hope, Bravo, Samuels, Blackwood, Ramdin, Holder, C Brathwaite, Roach, Taylor, Warrican

Updated

Russ will be here shortly but in the meantime, why not check out the results from the Perth Scorchers’ big win in the Big Bash and that of the Melbourne Stars in front of a record crowd at the MCG. Looks like this cricket stuff is going down okay after all.

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