Australian coach Mickey Arthur is happy with openers Ed Cowan and David Warner despite neither passing 50 yet in the Test series against the West Indies.

Warner’s 42 in the second innings of the first Test in Bridgetown is the highest score by either opener in the two matches so far this series despite both the NSW star and Cowan reaching double figures every time they’ve batted.

Arthur thinks fans need to adjust their expectations of what an opener should achieve in the Caribbean compared to Australian conditions, saying the low and slow nature of the pitches make it tough to kick on after getting in.

“In Australia, South Africa and England the game begins fairly quick and slows down whereas in conditions like this which are fairly subcontinental sort of conditions, the game begins slow,” Arthur told reporters.

“You always say when you get in in our conditions in Australia ‘when you get in, you cash in’.

“Here, when you get in sometimes it becomes more and more difficult because the fields become more and more defensive, the ball becomes softer, generally the spinners start bowling and that’s when the real challenge begins.

“I’m encouraged that they’re getting off to starts. Yes, I would love them to go on and get big scores for us but I’m confident they will do that in the future.”