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West Indies savaged by Aussie greats over 'horrible' scenes in second Test

Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head, pictured here on the first day of the second Test against the West Indies.
Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head both made centuries on the first day of the second Test against the West Indies. Image: Getty

Aussie cricket greats Mark Waugh and Michael Clarke have torn the West Indies to shreds over their 'horrible' display on the opening day of the second Test in Adelaide. Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head both scored centuries as the Aussies continued their dominance of the Windies and went to stumps at 3-330.

Labuschagne continued his ridiculous run of form and was 120 not out at stumps, while Head joined him in bringing up three figures and finished 114 not out at the close. By the end of the first night, Labuschagne and Head's fourth-wicket partnership was 199 runs.

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The West Indies actually made a bright start on Thursday and dismissed David Warner early for just 21. When Jason Holder got Steve Smith caught and bowled for a duck the Aussies were 3-131.

But Labuschagne and Head turned the tide in the Aussies' favour once again, piling on the runs and pain for the tourists. When Windies captain Kraigg Brathwaite took the new ball in the 80th over, the Aussie batters were so well set that it mattered little.

Speaking on Friday morning, Waugh and Clarke were highly critical of Brathwaite and the West Indies. Waugh described the quality of the Windies' bowling in the final session as 'not even club cricket', while also deriding the number of overs bowled by part-time spinners.

“Tactically, I couldn’t understand bringing a part-time spinner on in the first hour of the Test match,” Waugh said on RSN radio. “They hung in there pretty well halfway through the day when they had Australia 3-131 but after that Marnus and Travis Head just took the game away from them.

Kraigg Brathwaite in action for the West Indies in the second Test against Australia. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)
Kraigg Brathwaite in action for the West Indies in the second Test against Australia. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images)

"The last session, that was club cricket, not even club cricket, I’m being a bit disrespectful to club players. The bowling was very, very ordinary, they had hands in pockets and long-sleeve jumpers on, it just didn’t look like they wanted to be there.”

Former Test captain Clarke said the Windies were 'horrible'. Speaking on Sky Sports radio, he said: “Take nothing away from those two batsmen but clubbies at best, the West Indies.

“Their bowlers, again they brought a debutant out from West Indies who landed a handful of days ago, always going to be a risk and it’s such a long way to travel. They bowled two part-time spinners in the first session of a Test match. It’s an average attack. Their tactics were just horrible. They are in deep trouble.”

Ricky Ponting also took aim at the Windies' tactics on Channel 7, describing them as 'rubbish'.

Marnus Labuschagne continues insane run of form

Labuschagne's century marks his third consecutive triple-figure score, putting him in elite company. He made 204 and 104 not out in the first Test in Perth as the Aussies won by 164 runs.

At stumps on day one in Adelaide he had made 428 runs in the series - the third highest by an Australian in a two-Test series. He also became just the second Australian player to reach triple figures in three consecutive innings on two separate occasions.

He first achieved the feat against Pakistan in 2019 with 185, 162 and 143 in back-to-back-to-back innings. The only other Aussie batter to achieve the feat twice is David Warner.

Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head, pictured here leaving the field after stumps on day one of the second Test.
Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head leave the field after stumps on day one of the second Test. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Warner made 135 and 145 against South Africa and 133 against Pakistan in 2014, before 163, 116 and 253 against New Zealand in 2015. The only other players in world cricket to do the triple twice are Sri Lankans Kumar Sangakkara (in 2013 and 2014) and Aravinda de Silva (both in 1997).

Head's century came after a heartbreaking dismissal for 99 in the first Test. The South Australian went on to make triple figures in front of an adoring home crowd in Adelaide on Thursday night.

with AAP

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