Aussies humble Windies in Dominica

A combined bowling effort and some sharp catching has put Australia on top early in the opening Test against the West Indies in Dominica.

The hosts, despite winning the toss and electing to bat on a benign pitch at Windsor Park, were rolled for just 148 before tea on day one.

Fast bowlers Mitchell Johnson (3-34) and Josh Hazlewood (3-33) justified the selection of a pace-heavy attack on the normally spin-friendly pitch, while Mitchell Starc (2-48) also chimed in with a couple of scalps.

Spin did claim the other wickets, with Nathan Lyon (1-20) and Steve Smith (1-2) snaring one apiece.

Young opener Shai Hope top-scored for the Windies with a breezy 36 but his dismissal shortly before lunch proved pivotal.

The 21-year-old was brilliantly caught by Shaun Marsh at gully when the West Australian dove to his right to take a sharp chance off Johnson.

It was Australia’s second piece of sharp fielding in the opening session.

Captain Michael Clarke had set the template earlier when he snared a catch one-handed to his left off Lyon to dismiss Darren Bravo (19).

The real rot started after lunch when debutant Shane Dowrich played on to his stumps for 15.

From 3-85 at the break the Windies slumped to 6-91 when Jermaine Blackwood (2) and Marlon Samuels (7) also followed Dowrich back into the pavilion.

Captain Denesh Ramdin (19) was completely beaten by a Johnson delivery which kept low and shot under his defences to crash into the stumps.

Allrounder Jason Holder represented the Windies’ last real batting threat and he could only add 21 when he was caught again in the gully by Marsh off the bowling of Starc.

Jerome Taylor (6) epitomised the Windies’ culpability in their own demise when he slapped a Smith long-hop high to midwicket for running debutant Adam Voges to take another good catch.

Voges had earlier become Australia’s 442nd Test cricketer when he was presented with his baggy green by former Test quick Brendon Julian.

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