Marnus Labuschagne has given himself the opportunity to score a second double century as Australia took command on the opening day of the first Test at Perth Stadium on Wednesday.
The hyperactive Labuschagne was unbeaten on 154, his eighth Test century, sending Australia to stumps at 2-293 with Smith 59 not out and primed to charge down his second century in as many Tests.
Unfortunately, just 10,929 fans watched it in the 60,000-seat stadium, the lowest day one crowd for a Test Indies Test in Perth since 1997, when 10,091 turned up at the WACA Ground, which has a capacity of 20,000. The opening day crowd for the West Indies in 2000 was 16,894 and 2009 reached 13,037.
Labuschagne combined with Usman Khawaja (65 in 149 balls) to add 142 for the second wicket in almost two sessions to wear down a disciplined West Indian attack.
Smith looked in majestic touch. He told the Herald and The Age in September he had stopped his exaggerated shuffle across the crease to better play fast bowling, and just a fortnight ago claimed he had not batted better in six years after a run a ball unbeaten 80 against England after a one-day match at Adelaide Oval.
Labuschagne contained his hyperactive tendencies in an innings befitting of an Australian number three looking to set up a series for his country. It was the fifth time he has pushed onto 143 or more.
Marnus Labuschagne celebrates his century on day one against the West Indies.Credit:Getty
His hundred came up with a slashing square cut from Jayden Seales to the longest part of the ground.
Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss and set his batsmen the challenge of surviving then thriving on a greenish pitch, conscious of the cracks which can open up later in Tests under the hot Perth sun.
The approach of Labuschagne and Khawaja was different to an eager David Warner (5), who attempted to stamp his authority on the match and instead sent a full, wide ball from Seales flying into his stumps from the inside edge of a footless cover drive in the fourth over.
Warner’s figures can be read in two ways. The 36-year-old is coming off a one-day hundred against England little more than a week ago, or it’s almost three years since he has scored a Test century, although he does have a couple of 90s in that time.
Khawaja and Labuschagne put on 142 together.Credit:Getty
Now an elder statesman, Khawaja, 36, has become Mr Amazing since his recall as a fill-in for the Covid stricken Travis Head last January, passing 50 eight times from 13 innings with four centuries.
Economical in his movements and unflustered in his approach, Khawaja is a great example of experienced players knowing their game better in their twilight years when it appears the cut and thrust of international cricket has passed them by.
“I guess I’m at a point of my career now where at one stage I thought it was over, that playing for Australia was over,” Khawaja told Channel Seven after being dismissed. “So for me to get back out there I guess there is a different mindset to it now. I’m probably not holding on as tightly as I was before, so it’s a nice place to be.”
It was serious Test cricket in front of a small but appreciate crowd which generated its own natural hum as the between-over classic hit songs of white ball cricket were packed away until the Big Bash starts next month.
From the late ’70s to the mid ’90s the West Indies were cricket’s action attraction with their brilliance and athleticism, going 15 years without losing a Test series until Australia claimed their unofficial crown during the pivotal encounter of 1995.
But so far had the West Indies fallen in terms of performance and recognition they were pushed to the periphery of cricket’s consciousness.
A generation or two ago Australia was like a second home to the West Indies. Now this is the first Test encounter between the two cricketing nations for seven years. Captain Pat Cummins is one of a number of Australians who had never played against the West Indies in a Test match.
The West Indies have not beaten Australia in a Test since 2003.
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