The West Indies have survived a testing twilight period, after stand-in Australian captain Steve Smith sent the tourists in to bat before tea on day two at Adelaide Oval.
Openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul managed to get to tea safely against a seaming pink ball, heading to tea at 0-14.
As Kerry O’Keeffe said, it was “Job done”.
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Smith, undoubtedly restless after being one of a few to miss out with the bat, called time on Australia’s innings at 7-511, with wicket-keeper Alex Carey (41) and Mitchell Starc (5) unbeaten.
Former New Zealand wicket-keeper Ian Smith described it as the “perfect declaration”.
It was and it almost worked a treat, as fan-favourite Scott Boland struck Brathwaite in front from a delivery that jagged back. But the bouncy new ball meant he survived.
Travis Head missed out on a double century at his home ground in Adelaide. Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images
Starting the day at 3-330, local boy Travis Head was sniffing a double century after he became the first South Australian to score a century in Adelaide since Greg Blewitt more than two decades earlier on day one.
He wasn’t the only one either, as Marnus Labuschagne looked to repeat the dose from the week earlier.
Labuschagne went past 150 hardly breaking a sweat and continued to turn heads in the process.
O’Keeffe described the first-drop as a “master batter” at work, as he became the second fastest Australian behind Sir Don Bradman to register 3,000 runs.
The former leg-spinner said Labuschagne, who brought up the milestone in just 51 innings, was mounting a compelling case to be considered in Australia’s greatest XI.
Not long after he edged Devon Thomas behind as Joshua Da Silva held on brilliantly up at the stumps to see the gun batter depart for 163.
His dismissal finally allowed all-rounder Cameron Green to have a bat, but it wasn’t long before calamity struck as a “terrible” mix-up saw Head run out for 175. The left-hander was left fuming, but replays showed he was to blame for committing to a second run despite Green saying “no”.
Carey came in and looked competent from the outset, which was in stark contrast to Green who looked timid after spending so long to have a bat.
Green fell soon after, chopping on to give opening bowler Alzarri Joseph his second-wicket.
Returning bowling all-rounder Michael Neser came in and looked the goods before he fell to Brathwaite sweeping.
Some clean striking from Carey saw Australia go past 500, before Smith waved his teammates in as he looked for a blow before tea.
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