Australia torment West Indies again

Nathan Lyon became the most powerful Test wicket-taker at the Adelaide Oval, passing Shane Warne as Australia dominated the second day of the second Test against the West Indies.

Lyon, who served as the groundsman before his career took off, had Jermaine Blackwood caught and bowled for three in the evening session as Australia reduced the West Indies to 102-4 at stumps, a world away from the total of Australia 511-7. He gave Lyon his 57th wicket in 12 Tests in Adelaide, beating Warne’s 56 from 13 matches.

Michael Neser, playing just his second Test match and first since facing England in Adelaide last year, took 2-20 after a brace from West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite and Shamarh Brooks. Tagenarine Chanderpaul (47 not out) was the only West Indies batsman to cross 20 by the close.

Earlier, Marnus Labuschagne advanced from his overnight 120 not out to 163 before slotting past Devon Thomas to wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva.

Hometown favorite Travis Head had delighted the Adelaide crowd by reaching 114 on Thursday, and he looked set to turn it into a double century before being run out for 175 after a mix-up with Cameron Green during a second run. Head, slumped to lose, can console himself with what goes down as the best score of his Test career.

In the second of the two Tests, Australia look to be on course for a strong win to match their previous victory in Perth, especially with their players already established at the top.

Neser, a 32-year-old sailor from Queensland, told Fox: “The guys put it in there with the bat. We took advantage of the night session.”

He praised Lyon for passing Warne, saying: “He’s been performing for many years now, so it’s great to see him taking wickets. I’m sure he’s got a lot of years left in him.”

Labuschagne and Head are tied for sixth on the all-time list

Australia’s fourth-wicket partnership was worth 297 runs before Labuschagne was first out, and only five Test pairs have put on more for any wicket at Adelaide Oval. Labuschagne also featured in the second-highest Test partnership on the ground, putting on 361 with David Warner for Australia’s second wicket against Pakistan in November 2019. The highest remains the 386 shared by Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke against India in January 2012 – both batting making double centuries.

Chanderpaul at it again

The West Indies arrived in Australia with high hopes for Test opener Chanderpaul, son of the great Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and while the team is struggling collectively, he has proved very capable. Scores of 51 and 45 in the first Test boded well, and he will surely be hoping to post a new Test personal best on Saturday.

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