Australia vs West Indies Day 1 live: Steve Smith dismissed by star’s first delivery in Test cricket

A West Indies star has done something not seen in Test cricket for over 80 years, putting an abrupt end to Steve Smith’s highly anticipated innings atop the order.

Welcome to news.com.au’s live coverage of Day 1 of the first Test between Australia and the West Indies at the Adelaide Oval.

Australia claimed a 3-0 clean sweep over Pakistan and are heavy favourites to beat the West Indies in two Tests to finish the home summer.

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The West Indies collapsed after Pat Cummins won the toss and sent them in. Josh Hazlewood (4-44) and Cummins (4-41) were the pick of the bowlers, manipulating the ball to skittle the visitors’ top order.

Kirk McKenzie did well on his way to a half-century but was given very little backup from the rest of his team. It was down to the two tailenders Kemar Roach (17*) and Shamar Joseph (37) to pile on a handy partnership.

They were eventually all out for 188, bringing Steve Smith to the crease in his highly anticipated debut opening the batting. But Joseph had his measure in his very first delivery in Test cricket, snagging his outside edge and sending him on his way for 12.

Marnus Labuschagne continued his lean patch and mustered 10 runs before fishing out a fielder in the deep.

Cameron Green (6*) and Usman Khawaja (30*) will resume at the crease at 10.30am (AEDT) tomorrow.

Join us again for all the highlights from day two.

5.30pm - Marnus falls

Marnus Labuschagne has fallen cheaply for 10 after miss hitting a short ball from Shamar Joseph, sending a hook shot straight to Gudakesh Motie in the deep.

Joseph has had a dream debut with the ball this afternoon, taking both wickets late in the third session.

Cameron Green has now joined Usman Khawaja at the crease in his highly anticipated return to the Test lineup. Kerry O’Keeffe has called on the all-rounder to perform immediately at No. 4, because the new team has been built around him in his preferred position.

Green has spoken of how he felt rushed down at No. 6 in the first years of his career. He now has the perfect opportunity to do what he does best and slowly build an innings.

5pm - Shamar Joseph takes wicket with first ball of career

Well you don’t see this every day.

Shamar Joseph dismissed Steve Smith with his very first delivery in Test cricket, putting an end to the 34-year-old’s highly anticipated debut atop the batting order.

The 24-year-old had his team in an absolute fit after snagging the edge and sending a regulation catch to third slip.

He is the first West Indies player to take a wicket with his first ball in Tests since Tyrell Johnson in 1939.

FIRST BALL!

Shamar Joseph gets Steve Smith with his first ball in Tests! #OhWhatAFeeling | @Toyota_Aus | #AUSvWIpic.twitter.com/XLelMqZHrG

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 17, 2024

4.30pm - Smith is away, Windies drop a chance

Steve Smith has got off the mark and scored his first run as a Test opener, flicking Kemar Roach off his pads for a quick single to get off strike.

The 34-year-old began his innings in typical fashion, pointing towards an apparent distraction near the sight screen before the first ball was bowled.

There has been a lot of anticipation around his move up the order, with Michael Clarke predicting some massive scores from the former number four.

Usman Khawaja was granted a life in the second over after being caught off guard by a quicker ball from Alzarri Joseph. He flashed at it outside off stump and sent an edge to wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva, who dropped it to the turf.

Dangerous signs.

Put down! Khawaja gets a life in Joseph's first over! #AUSvWIpic.twitter.com/17eCdLNftC

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 17, 2024

4.10pm - Lyon snags last wicket

Australia has finally made the breakthrough.

A gallant effort from Kemar Roach (17 not out) and Shamar Joseph (37) helped the West Indies creep towards 200. But Nathan Lyon got the work done shortly after tea, trapping Joseph lbw and wrapping up the tourists’ innings for 188.

All eyes will be on the middle in about 15 minutes when Steve Smith makes his way to the crease to open the batting for the first time.

3.20pm - Windies tail wags before tea

The tailenders have shown some resistance before tea, building a 44-run partnership as Australia fought hard for the final wicket.

Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are both searching for their fifth wicket to cap off a dominant bowling innings for the pace pair.

Number 11 and debut player Shamar Joseph (31*) is now the side’s second top scorer heading to the tea break.

2.21pm - Windies collapsing

Josh Hazlewood is running riot and the West Indies are collapsing quickly after showing some brief resistance after the lunch break.

Hazlewood registered his 250th Test wicket and has figures of 4/15 — claiming the scalps of Kirk McKenzie, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves and Alick Athanaze.

Greaves lofted a cover drive straight to Marnus Labuschagne.

“That’s a bit too easy,” Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket. “That’s just too easy for a No.6 in Test match cricket. You’ve got to be a bit more vigilant than that.”

This match and series could be over very quickly.

pro golfers West Indies

🤝

trying to make it to the weekend

— Brett Sprigg (@BrettSprigg) January 17, 2024

1.59pm - Green takes another

Just as the Windies were steadying the ship, another wicket has fallen after Kavem Hodge edged a Josh Hazlewood delivery through to gully, where Cam Green took another excellent catch. It leaves the tourists 4/98.

“The albatross gets the old wings out and takes another one,” Ian Smith said on Fox Cricket.

“He is so good there, so natural.”

1.32pm - Aussies burn shocking review

The West Indies are putting up a fight after the lunch break with Kirk McKenzie and Kavem Hodge showing some resistance.

Pat Cummins thought McKenzie might have edged through to Alex Carey, and the Aussies sent it upstairs for a review despite a seriously half-hearted appeal.

DRS showed the ball wasn’t even close to hitting the bat and Australia wasted a review.

“Big gap between bat and ball there,” Brendon Julian said on Fox Cricket

Australia burned a review on this. Photo: Fox Cricket.

12.30pm - Aussies on top at lunch

Australia are well on top at lunch, restricting the West Indies to 3/64 in the first session.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Aussies batting today.

12.16pm - Hazlewood gets 250

Josh Hazlewood has claimed his 250th Test wicket as Alick Athanaze chopped onto his stumps in a fairly soft dismissal.

AUS with Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood & Lyon are the only Test side to have had 4 bowlers with 200+ wickets each in the same team
All 4 now have 250 wickets

@CricketAus#AUSvWI

— Swamp (@sirswampthing) January 17, 2024

It means all three Australian fast bowlers — Hazlewood, Cummins and Starc — now have at least 250 wickets to their name.

Josh Hazlewood now has 250 Test wickets. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

11.32am - Cummins gets both openers

Pat Cummins has continued his red hot form, dismissing both West Indies openers in the first hour of the Test.

Cummins clean bowled Kraigg Brathwaite to have the Windies reeling at 2/27.

The Aussie skipper has overtaken Jason Gillespie and is now ninth on the all-time list of Australian Test wicket takers with 260 wickets from 59 Tests at an average of just over 22.

11.13am - Cummins strikes, Green takes a screamer

Pat Cummins has struck first, dismissing Tagenarine Chanderpaul thanks to Cameron Green taking screamer of a catch in the gully.

After a gritty start, Chanderpaul drove a Cummins delivery in the 10th over and Green snaffled a two-handed catch well above his head.

Not a bad way to return to the team, Cameron.

Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket: “Cameron Green covers about four spots in gully. That’s a very, very good catch. It went very quickly, above his head and he’s hung onto it.

“That’s why he’s in the team. He can bat, bowl and catch. He catches balls over fielders wouldn’t get close too.”

Justin Langer said Green, who took two blinders in the World Test Championship Final, might already be Australia’s best ever gully fielder.

“He’s a great athlete and his fielding in the slips, if that was me in the gully that, would have been one bounce for four over that area, but he’s so tall, he’s so athletic and his hands – he works very hard,” Langer said on Channel 7.

Cameron Green, what a screamer. Photo: Fox Cricket.

“That is a great catch. It has flown at him. Yet, he seems to have taken it so easily. He really delights in the fact that he’s having such success there.”

Damien Fleming asked: “Will he end up our greatest gully fielder ever?”

Langer said: “I remember, Matthew Hayden was an excellent gully. But again, a big man. Geoff Marsh, Mitch’s dad was excellent in the gully. There has been some good ones, but I just can’t remember anyone as consistently brilliant as Cameron Green in that position.

“We have seen him take them on both sides of his body, above his head and taken down low. He’s an exceptional gully fieldsman.”

10.01am - Aussies win toss, to ‘go for the kill’

Overcast conditions in Adelaide could make for favourable bowling conditions and Pat Cummins has chosen to bowl first after winning the toss.

Cummins said: “Looks like there’s a fair bit of grass on the wicket and (we’ll have) first use of it.”

Interestingly, West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite said he would have chosen to bat.

Brett Lee said on Fox Cricket: “I reckon the Aussies might bowl first. They’ll go for the kill.”

Cummins has shown he isn’t afraid to bowl first, but he’ll be hoping to change history given Australia has never won a Test at the Adelaide Oval after winning the toss and choosing to bowl first.

Australia has never won a Test match at Adelaide Oval after winning the toss end choosing to bowl first.

1979 vs England - Lost by 205 runs
1980 vs West Indies - Lost by 408 runs#AUSvWI

— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) January 16, 2024

List of players in the #AUSvWI match who were alive the last time AUS sent the opposition in to bat in a Test match at @TheAdelaideOval

#AUSvWI

— Swamp (@sirswampthing) January 16, 2024

that groan from the crowd as soon as pat said bowl hahah

— Lenny Phillips (@lenphil29) January 16, 2024

Fans at the Adelaide Oval let out an audible groan as Cummins said he’d have a bowl first, so the Aussie faithful will have to wait to see Steve Smith open the batting.

Pat Cummins elected to bowl first. Photo: Fox Cricket.

9.40am - Smith ‘excited’ to open

Steve Smith told Fox Cricket on Wednesday morning he was excited to open the batting in Test cricket for the first time.

“It’s nothing foreign,” he said of his move up the order.

“I’ve been waiting to bat for a long time since Marnus has been playing.

“I’m just keen to get out there and amongst it.

“I’m just excited by the challenge. Newer ball, there’s probably more gaps around the field. Hopefully I can be free flowing.”

9.30am - Aussie legend ‘nearly vomited’ at Smith move

The decision to pick Steve Smith to open the batting surprised many, given specialist opener Cameron Bancroft was overlooked despite strong Sheffield Shield form.

Fox Cricket’s Brendon Julian said elevating Smith to opener and slotting Cam Green in at No.4 undoubtedly makes the Australian team better overall.

But not everyone is happy with the selection call. Several West Australian greats including former Australian captain Kim Hughes have slammed Bancroft’s omission.

“I nearly vomited,” Hughes told WA Sport.

“I’ve got no doubts in my mind that if Cameron Bancroft played for New South Wales he’d be in the Test side. He’s in his prime.

Steve Smith will open the batting against the West Indies. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Cam Green is back in the Aussie side. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)

“Smith is struggling at the moment. He’s been an absolute superstar, but as an opener, he is no more opener than me opening the bowling.

“He needs to stay at No.4, get his mojo back if you like, without all the fluff.”

Pat Cummins said there was no conspiracy as to why Cameron Bancroft wasn’t chosen to replace Warner in this series.

“Yeah, I’ve got absolutely no issues with Bangers, love what he brings,” Cummins said in Adelaide.

“(I told him) ‘just don’t change. We’ve loved playing with you in the past and keep doing your thing. I’m sure you’ll be back in Aussie colours pretty soon.”

9am - Teams named, Smith change confirmed

Australia XI: Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

West Indies XI: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Kemar Roach