Hobart Test Day 1 review: Voges, Marsh exploited Windies' bowling weakness

Tags: West Indies tour of Australia 2015, Australia, West Indies, Australia vs West Indies 1st Test at Hobart, Dec 10-14, 2015

Published on: Dec 11, 2015

Scorecard | Commentary | Graphs

As mentioned in the preview to the Hobart game, West Indies were always expected to struggle against a strong Australian side. However, the visitors managed to make an impression in the first session of the match. They actually had the better of the exchanges as the teams headed to lunch.

As mentioned in the preview to the Hobart game, West Indies were always expected to struggle against a strong Australian side. However, the visitors managed to make an impression in the first session of the match. They actually had the better of the exchanges as the teams headed to lunch. West Indies ended the session having claimed three big Australian wickets rather unexpectedly. At that stage, it seemed like West Indies could trouble a somewhat fragile Aussie middle order. But, by the end of the day, normalcy had been restored to the proceedings as Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh completely dismantled the Windies bowling.
West Indies definitely had a slender chance to put the Aussies under the pump. But, they missed the same, primarily because their bowlers lacked to discipline to get even the basics right. This was the aspect of West Indies' bowling that both Voges and Marsh exploited the most. The latter, in particular, was under pressure to deliver, but had it all easy against a mediocre bowling attack. There were half-volleys after half-volleys as the left-hander got his eye in with ease. Marsh got a 49 in the previous innings as New Zealand, but considering he was replacing Usman Khawaja, he had to do a lot more. This ton will help.
As for Voges, he continued his great form. The domestic veteran struggled in the Ashes after a hundred on Test debut against West Indies. But, he displayed good nick in the series against New Zealand, and carried on in the same vein against West Indies at Hobart. The fact that he was playing against the nation that he had tasted success instantly would have made him feel good. And the fact that he cruised through his innings for most part of the day definitely indicated that he held a psychological edge over the opponents. The best part about Voges' innings was that he wasn't satisfied with a hundred, and went on to notch up a big score, remaining unbeaten at stumps.
For West Indies, it was a rather familiar story. They showed glimpses of good form, but couldn't put together a complete good day. The most disappointing aspect of the visitors' bowling effort was that they kept leaking runs even when they were claiming wickets, thus never creating any sort of pressure on the Aussie batsmen. They were also unlucky as Shannon Gabriel walked off early after having trouble with his ankle. Still, they could have done better.
Gabriel bowled Joe Burns with one that nipped back after the Aussies got off to a brisk start. Jomel Warrican got Steven Smith to edge one behind slips, and even ended David Warner's rapid fifty having him caught at the crease. But, the pressure they should have built after that never was -- an embarrassingly familiar tale with West Indies cricket.
-- By A Cricket Analyst

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