Michael Neser snares crucial wicket of West Indies captain after Aussies declare — LIVE
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Cameron Green put tough day with the bat and getting belted for 17 in his first over behind him to snare Devon Thomas as the West Indies lost their fourth wicket late on day two at the Adelaide Oval.
The West Indies are 4/90 in the 33rd over in their first innings, still trailing by 422 runs.
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Michael Neser had a brilliant return to Test cricket taking two wickets late on day two.
The Queensland seamer has struck in his third over of the Adelaide Test, removing West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite with a beauty that nipped away from the right-hander and caught the outside edge.
Soon after, Neser put down a tough return chance that would have sent Shamarh Brooks back to the sheds for 8, desperately outstretching his left arm to no avail.
But the 32-year-old didn’t have to wait long for a second breakthrough, removing Brooks in his following over in almost identical fashion to Brathwaite’s dismissal.
Nathan Lyon then began to work his magic on the Adelaide deck.
The off-spinner tempted Jermaine Blackwood into playing an expansive drive, only managing to chip a regulation return catch back to Lyon, gone for 3 to leave the West Indies in dire straits.
“Unnecessary at this time,” West Indies legend Brian Lara said on Fox Cricket.
Former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith continued: “It’s not responsible batting.
“That’s poor.”
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Earlier, Australia declared at 7-511 after Travis Head’s career-best knock ended in calamitous scenes, run out for 175 on day two of the second Test against the West Indies.
Scampering between the wickets, Head suffered a brain fade and found himself stranded in the middle of the pitch.
The left-hander wasn’t able to make his ground despite a desperate dive, run out at the striker’s end.
“He won’t be happy,” former Australian Test batter Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket.
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All-rounder Cameron Green departed shortly after Head, chopping on for 9 after failing to get his bat out of the way of an Alzarri Joseph delivery.
After the drinks break, Queensland’s Michael Neser was trapped on the front pad by West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite for 18, wasting a review before returning to the sheds.
Wicketkeeper Alex Carey finished unbeaten on 41 before Steve Smith called the innings to a close.
Day two of the Adelaide pink-ball Test got underway with Marnus Labuschagne and Head almost immediately bringing up their 200-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Unfortunately for the West Indies, opening bowlers Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph couldn’t set the tone on Friday afternoon, repeatedly bowling on the pads and down the leg side.
Considering the visitors for early breakthroughs, it was a viciously mediocre start to the day.
“The first 10-15 minutes are the crucial point when you’re bowling to players on the new day,” former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith told Fox Cricket.
“This ball is basically spanking new. You cannot be laid back here, you’ve got to be going at them hard.
“This is such a poor first over, I’ve got to say.”
West Indies legend Brian Lara also took aim at the field placement in the first hour of day two, where boundary riders were placed on opposite sides of Adelaide Oval.
“I don’t really understand the field,” he said on Fox Cricket.
“It seems like you’re just protecting both sides of the field.”
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West Indies reserve wicketkeeper Devon Thomas snared the crucial breakthrough in the first session, with Labuschagne feathering the pink Kookaburra behind to gloveman Joshua Da Silva, who claimed a smart catch.
The dismissal ended a 297-run partnership between Labuschagne and Head, finally bringing Green to the crease for the first time in the series.
The young West Australian all-rounder should have been back in the sheds for a golden duck, edging his first delivery towards the slip cordon.
But the ball bounced inches in front of injured reserve fielder Kyle Mayers standing at first slip, much to the frustration of former Test batter Mark Waugh.
“That’s ridiculous,” he said on Fox Cricket.
“He’s too deep … he should be a metre up from there.”
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Australian XI
David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
West Indies squad XI
Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Shamarh Brooks, Jermaine Blackwood, Devon Thomas, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Roston Chase, Alzarri Joseph, Anderson Phillip, Marquino Mindley
Recent form (most recent first)
Australia WLWWD
West Indies LWWWD