Windies crumble on day one

West Indian woes continued, as they squandered first use of an excellent batting surface at Hobart to be dismissed for 149 on the first day of the second Test match. Chanderpaul won the toss and elected to bat first, but met a familiar scene of seemingly substandard batting.

Stuart MacGill (11-3-18-3) and Glenn McGrath (23-9-31-4) were the chief destroyers, and Matthew Hayden (31 not out) and Mike Hussey (26 not out) further stated the nature of the pitch by fairly cruising to 0/60 at stumps.

Devon Smith was first out, dragging Brett Lee back onto his stumps with just 4 on the board. He was soon followed by the vice-captain, Ramnaresh Sarwan (2), who went after a full outswinger and edged behind.

A struggling Brian Lara came to the crease and fought for 42 balls for his 6 runs at lunch. He lost partner Chris Gayle, who retired hurt with a recurrence of his heart condition when on 18. Joined by captain Chanderpaul, the rebuilding process began, and the score at the break was 2/49.

After lunch, the score was taken to 3/60 at the fall of Lara, when he was struck on the pad by a fast, angled yorker from Lee. Lara was out for 13, as his disappointing tour continued.

Gayle returned, and he and Chanderpaul posted a partnership of 59 – by far the best of the innings. Symonds, bowling first change, had Gayle caught behind off a noball, but aside from that, the batsmen looked increasingly more comfortable at the crease.

Not to disappoint the crowd though, Chanderpaul was caught bat/pad by debutant Brad Hodge off MacGill for 39. Without further addition to the score, Gayle was given out LBW to a McGrath ball that was heading down the legside, and it was 5/119.

Gayle’s half-century was the lone light for the West Indies on the day, as his innings last 116 balls and featured 7 fours and 2 sixes. He took on Warne expertly and looked a genuine threat for a large part of his innings. Alas, the luck was not with him against McGrath, and thus he flattered to deceive.

The addition of Dwayne Bravo to the batting lineup made little difference, and Australia made quick work of the lower order and tail. Bravo (3), Ramdin (2), and Samuels (5) were meek in their offerings, as MacGill and McGrath dealt with them easily. Edwards posed a 16-ball duck, and Daren Powell lasted 40 balls for his 15, but that was the extent of the tailend resistance.

Ultimately the West Indies lost their last 7 wickets for just 30 runs – a typical collapse, especially frequent against the likes of Australia.

Hayden was particularly comfortable in his time at the crease, looking very settled and zoned for a big score. The West Indies lead by just 89 runs on first innings, and Australia has all ten wickets in hand.

West Indies 149
Chris Gayle 56, Shivnarine Chanderpaul 39
Glenn McGrath 4/31, Stuart MacGill 3/18

Australia 0/60
Matthew Hayden 31*, Mike Hussey 26*