WARNER AN EARLY LOSS FOR AUSSIES
DAVID Warner fell cheaply before Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne steered Australia to 1-72 at lunch on day one of the opening Test against a lively West Indies pace attack on Wednesday.
A watchful Khawaja, who has been a rock at the top of the order this year, was unbeaten on 36 with Labuschagne not out 26 on a hot day at Perth Stadium, with their stand reaching 63.
The West Indies are without a win on Australian soil for 25 years and suffered a blow before the match with allrounder Raymon Reifer ruled out of the two-Test series after picking up a groin injury.
They handed a debut to batsman Tagenarine Chanderpaul, the son of retired great Shivnarine.
Top-ranked Australia made just one change from their last Test against Sri Lanka in July, with speedster Josh Hazlewood back in place of spinner Mitchell Swepson.
In dry conditions ideal for pace and bounce, Australian skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bat, consigning the visitors to the field in searing heat.
Wearing black armbands to mourn former West Indies wicketkeeper David Murray, who died last week, they kept Warner and Khawaja in check in the opening overs.
Warner’s first attacking shot saw Jayden Seales pulled for a boundary in the fourth over.
But the left-hander’s aggression cost him next delivery as he tried to drive a wide delivery only to drag it back on to his stumps to be out for five. It was a big wicket for the 21-year-old Trinidadian and his first in Australia. Khawaja, who has scored four Test centuries and reached the 90s twice in the past year, was joined by Labuschagne and the pair set about slowly building a dangerous partnership.
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