HOBART — Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh pounded tons in a triple-century unbroken stand to crush the dispirited West Indies and put Australia in command of the first Test in Hobart Thursday.
In a grim foreboding of what lies ahead for the maligned Caribbean tourists in the three-Test series, Australia cruised effortlessly to 438 for three at stumps on the opening day with the West Australian pair taking the game away from the Windies.
It was the most runs scored by Australia on an opening day of a Test against the West Indies.
At the close, Voges was unbeaten on 174 with Marsh not out 139 in a unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership of 317.
Voges slammed the fastest century for Australia in Hobart, his ton coming off 100 balls and eclipsing another West Australian Adam Gilchrist’s hundred off 110 balls against Pakistan at the venue in 1999.
It was Voges’s third Test century and second against the West Indies after scoring an unbeaten 130 on his Test debut in Dominica last June.
Marsh in scoring his third Test century and first at home also posed a dilemma for selectors whether he will make way as a replacement for the imminent return of Usman Khawaja from a hamstring injury.
The West Indies had got itself into a reasonable position to have Australia at 121 for three at lunch with key batsmen David Warner (64) and skipper Steve Smith (10) back in the dressing room.
But Voges and Marsh batted through the remaining two sessions without difficulty to leave the West Indies in despair.
Voges reached his Test century on the penultimate ball before tea, scampering through for two with Marsh taking the risk running to the danger end.
The West Indies did not help its cause with a painfully slow over rate. They bowled only 50 overs in the first two sessions of play and needed to call on part-time spinners to get to 89 of the regulation 90 overs under the threat of disciplinary action from the match referee Chris Broad.
De Villiers to keep wickets in Tests against England
Batsman AB de Villiers will return to the role of wicketkeeper for South Africa in the opening two Tests of their four-match home series against England starting in Durban on Boxing Day.
Cricket South Africa confirmed the move Thursday as they named a 13-man squad for the first two Tests that also included a call-up for uncapped left-handed batsman Rilee Rossouw.
The versatile De Villiers did keep wickets during last season’s home series against the West Indies when Quinton de Kock was injured but before that had not donned the gloves in a test since the 2013-14 home series against Australia.
Squad: Hashim Amla (captain), Kyle Abbott, Temba Bavuma, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Morne Morkel, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn and Stiaan van Zyl.
