Labuschagne's ton puts Australia in command
Marnus Labuschagne weathered an early assault on a green-tinged Optus Stadium pitch to compile a brilliant unbeaten century, as Australia dominated an increasingly ragged West Indies on the opening day of the first Test.
Coming to the crease in the fourth over after the wicket of opener David Warner, Labuschagne was confronted by a pumped-up attack on a surface with 10mm of grass left on it .
But through century partnerships with Usman Khawaja and an irresistible Steve Smith, he gained a stranglehold of the contest and crushed the hopes of West Indies, whose chances of ending a 25-year Test drought in Australia look already forlorn after the opening day of the two-match series.
While most of their team-mates have lacked playing red ball cricket, amid a slew of limited-overs internationals, Labuschagne and Khawaja showed the benefit of a lengthy preparation through four Sheffield Shield matches with Queensland this season.
Labuschagne has clearly enjoyed returning to Optus Stadium, where he scored 143 and 50 against New Zealand three years ago in the last Test match played at the 60,000-seat ground.
While Khawaja looked in sparkling touch from the get go to continue his Test resurgence as an opener with an average of 95 for the calendar year. It was almost a shock when he fell before tea to a cracker of a delivery from seamer Kyle Mayers, but Australia soon regained control in a one-sided final session.
Perhaps sensing their opposition wilting, Labuschagne and Smith put the foot down after tea to score freely as West Indies went through the motions and their quicks were unconvincing with the second new ball.
Labuschagne celebrated reaching his century with gusto, taking his helmet off and raising his bat aloft after receiving a firm hug from Smith. He was in strong form throughout his innings although received some luck before tea when he edged through the slips during a menacing burst from quick Kemar Roach and had two moments of fortune during a lively over from Jayden Seales where he top edged a short ball and then nicked through the cordon. He capitalised on an increasingly weary West Indies effort, hooking a six off Alzarri Joseph into the sparse grandstands late in the day.
Smith’s strong form from the ODI series against England continued, underlining his increasing confidence with his new technique, which he recently refined by abandoning shuffling across the crease.
Chief scores
Australia: 293 for 2 (Labuschagne 154*, Smith 59*, Usman Khawaja 65, Kyle Mayers 1/24, Jayden Seales 1/63) vs West Indies. (Cricinfo)