Australia’s cricketers made a steady, if unspectacular, start to the third Test against the West Indies in Dominica.

At lunch on day one the tourists were 1-69 after winning the toss with David Warner unbeaten on 28 and Shane Watson 29 at the break.

They had added 68 in an unbroken stand for the second wicket in what is just the second Test to be played in Dominica.

An eager crowd at Windsor Park in Roseau didn’t have to wait long to get on their feet with Australian opener Ed Cowan (one) dismissed in the second over.

Cowan was struck on his pads offering no shot on the second delivery by Ravi Rampaul, the Trinidad-based quick called into the side in place of Fidel Edwards.

Rampaul (1-22) should have had a second wicket when he lured Warner into an edge when the opener was on five but Windies skipper Darren Sammy dropped a regulation catch at third slip.

The second biggest roar of the day came when Dominica local Shane Shillingford was thrown the ball late in the session, the off-spinner becoming the first product of the island nation to play a Test at home.

Australia made two changes to the team which drew the last match in Trinidad with Ryan Harris and Mitchell Starc going into the side.

Harris replaces injured fast bowler James Pattinson while Starc, playing his first Test since the clash with India in Perth in January, replaces spinner Michael Beer.