Australia quicks rip through Windies top order

Australia's pace trio of Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle combined to seize control of the opening Test in Brisbane on Friday.

Australia's pace trio of Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle combined to seize control of the opening Test in Brisbane on Friday.

Johnson (2-45) led the way as Ponting's young quicks reduced the tourists to 5-134 at stumps on Day 2, still 346 behind the home side's 480-8 (decl), reports The Australian.

The Windies top-order collapsed from 0-49 to 4-63 in a matter of five overs after tea as they failed to handle the pace and bounce of the pace trio.

All-rounder Shane Watson also chipped in with the scalp of former Queensland teammate Brendan Nash (18) while Ponting dropped the unbeaten Travis Dowlin when he was seven.

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Peter Siddle

With three days remaining, the Windies are in dire straits with a feeble tail ripe for the picking once third-Test scrapper Dowlin (40no) or wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin (22no) is dislodged.

The follow-on target of 280 looks far beyond them After a typically slashing opening from skipper Chris Gayle (31), the Windies lost four wickets in quick succession, raising expectations of an early finish to the match after Australia earlier declared at 8-480.

Johnson was next, removing fellow opener Adrian Barath, who edged the ball to Watson at third slip.

The Queensland-born duo teamed up again to send Dwayne Bravo back to the sheds without scoring, with Siddle trapping dangerous veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul for an LBW decision only slightly less obvious than Gayle.

At tea on the second day of the first Test, the tourists were 0-41 after just six overs, thanks largely to Gayle, who smashed four boundaries on his way to an unbeaten 27 from just 22 balls.

After negotiating a tough opening period on day one, Australia's batsman each took a liking to the favourable condition this morning, with all bar opener Watson (0) and hard-hitting spearheadu00a0 Johnson (7) making double figure contributions.

Simon Katich (92) topped topped the scorers, while skipper Ricky Ponting (55), Michael Hussey (66), Marcus North (79) and Nathan Hauritz (50 not out) also notched up half centuries.

Hauritz and Siddle (20 not out) were the unbeaten batsmen when their captain called an end to the innings at the end of the 135th over.

All-rounder Dwayne Bravo (3-118) and youngster Kemar Roach (1-76) were the pick of the bowlers, though all toiled hard in the hot, trying conditions, made all the more difficult by the absence of their most experienced option Jerome Taylor, who bowled only nine overs before succumbing to a hip complaint.


Brief scores: West Indies 5 for 134 trail Australia 8 for 480 dec (Katich 92, North 79, Hussey 66, Ponting 55, Hauritz 50*, Bravo 3-118) by 346 runs

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