Australia’s cricketers limped to lunch at 3-133 on day three of the first Test against the West Indies, with Michael Clarke lucky to make it to the break.

Clarke was given out caught behind on 21 off Windies spinner Devendra Bishoo but reversed the decision on appeal.

The third umpire’s ruling left the West Indies baffled with little evidence on television replays to suggest Clarke hadn’t nicked the delivery off his bottom edge.

By the break the Australia captain was 27 not out with Shane Watson unbeaten on 39 after a session where the tourist’s response to the Windies 9(dec)-449 suffered three setbacks.

Ed Cowan (14) was the first to go, caught behind to the impressive Darren Sammy (2-14) after the Windies’ skipper lured him to prod at a length ball outside off stump.

Sammy then thought he had trapped Watson LBW offering no shot when the Australian No.3 was on five but the television review showed the ball hadn’t done enough to overturn umpire Ian Gould’s decision.

The Windies captain didn’t have to wait long for his second wicket though, his nagging line drawing an edge from David Warner (42) which Darren Bravo pouched at second slip.

Disaster then struck for Australia with Watson and Ricky Ponting (4) having a horror mix-up which left the former captain stranded after some sharp fielding by Windies youngster Kraigg Brathwaite.

Clarke’s lucky break denied the Windies a fourth wicket but, on this evidence, Australia will have to work hard to avoid conceding a big first-innings lead on a wearing Kensington Oval pitch.