Australia vs West Indies Day 1 live: Cameron Green takes absolute screamer

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.

All eyes will be on Steve Smith after he volunteered to open the batting following David Warner’s retirement.

Cameron Green returns to the side for his first Test since the Ashes.

Australia won the toss and elected to bowl, which paid off when Pat Cummins dismissed both openers and the West Indies were struggling at 3/64 at lunch.

With Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers prioritising T20 franchise cricket, the West Indies squad features seven uncapped players.

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.

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

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.

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

SOURCE: NEWS.COM