West Indies off to solid start

Cricket365
April 7, 2012

A wicket in each session kept Australia in the contest as the West Indies moved to 179 for three in Bridgetown on day one of the first Test, before rain sent the players from the field.

A wicket in each session kept Australia in the contest as the West Indies moved to 179 for three in Bridgetown on day one of the first Test, before rain sent the players from the field.
Having won the toss and decided to bat first, the West Indies made solid yet wholly unspectacular progress.
At no stage did the run rate peak over three to the over as the hosts took a safety first approach, one that paid dividends to some extent.
Having seen off the new ball, Adrian Barath (22) will be frustrated to have fallen into a well-laid trap by Ryan Harris. Set up for the short ball, Barath took the bait and top-edged a short ball that was too quick for him.
Kraigg Brathwaite found a willing partner in Kirk Edwards and the pair put on 104 for the second wicket.
Edwards (57) became more aggressive as his innings progressed, playing some fine shots in the long-on region. However, it was one such shot that saw him dismissed, heaving a rank long-hop back to the bowler – none other than David Warner. It was Warner's first wicket in Test cricket and he had to pull off a smart catch to claim it.
A cautious Darren Bravo came to the crease under pressure having seen his thriving career stall in recent times. The left-hander showing moments of promise as he looked to come out of his shell.
He lost Brathwaite (67) as a partner though, with the opener departing in disappointing fashion as he feathered a lazy looking shot to Matthew Wade – his first Test scalp – behind the stumps off Siddle's bowling.
While the Australians only managed to claim three wickets, they should have had three more as they uncharacteristically put down a number of catches. Siddle (off his own bowling), Ponting in the slips off the bowling of Watson and most culpably Watson in the gully off Siddle, were then men to hang their heads in shame.
In truth though, the Australians had lacked a touch of zip in their attack, with the decision not to select James Pattinson seemingly a strange one. Harris was the man chosen ahead of him, and while he bowled with great effort, Pattinson's youthful exuberance may have lifted the visitors.
For the West Indies, Bravo (20*) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (8*) need to push on to ensure that the good platform that has been laid does not go to waste.