AUS vs WI: Head, Labuschagne tons, Australia declare at 511/7

West Indies openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul survived five overs before tea against quicks Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland. Who is playing his first Test match since claiming 19 wickets at 9.6 in three Ashes Tests last summer. Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne dominated an uninspired West Indies attack with big centuries in a 297-run partnership. Australia declared their massive first innings late in the middle session on day two of the second Test. Labuschagne, however, fell short of a second double ton amid his purple patch of three straight centuries.

Australia scored 511 for 7 off 137 overs in their third straight declaration in this one-sided two-Test series, as beleaguered West Indies have the tough prospect of getting through a tricky short period before tea before facing the pink ball under lights in the final session. Starting at 330 for 3, continuing their aggressive form under lights on day one. Head and Labuschagne combined for the third-highest fourth-wicket partnership for Australia against West Indies. The No.1 ranked Test batter also passed 3000 Test runs in just his 51st innings with only Don Bradman reaching the landmark faster for an Australia batter. West Indies had no answers and once again rued sloppy bowling.

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Head & Marnus dominated an uninspired West Indies attack 

He was generally reactionary, but a second-string attack didn’t help his cause. Such was the ease they had against a struggling West Indies attack on a batting-friendly Adelaide Oval surface. It seemed like a formality that Head and Labuschagne would notch double centuries. But they missed out with Labuschagne falling for 163 late in the first session when he was caught behind off debutant Devon Thomas, whose handy seamers upstaged West Indies’ frontline bowlers, while Head was run out just after the dinner break.

Hometown hero Head had cruised past his highest Test score of 161 as he eyed his maiden double century. But disaster struck when Head was run out for 175 after a mix-up with Cameron Green as he trudged off the field to a standing ovation from the home faithful which surely shook him from his stupor. Head’s fifth Test century was the first by a South Australian batter since Greg Blewett in 1995. While Head’s knock was marked by belligerence, continually plundering boundaries through the off side, Labuschagne was technically sound and didn’t require good fortune which he sometimes seems to have in spades.