Wade feels the reassuring fizz

Matthew Wade knew his first Test for Australia was looming for far longer than many who have previously worn the baggy green cap but its presentation was still a cause for joy. It was handed to him by Ricky Ponting, whose first Test match tour had been to the West Indies in 1995, though he had to wait until later that year against Sri Lanka to make the Test XI. As has become the tradition, Wade warmed up in his new cap, then felt the reassuring thud of the new ball arriving firmly into his gloves when Ryan Harris fizzed the first delivery of the Test past the outside edge of Adrian Barath.

Australia were looking a little short of ideas when Harris returned to the attack for a second spell in the 18th over. After Adrian Barath kept out his first two deliveries comfortably enough, Harris switched to round the wicket and telegraphed his intentions by placing a short leg and moving the fine leg wider to deep backward square. Barath took note of all these things, settled over his bat - and hooked the next ball anyway. Harris' bouncer was swift and over off stump, drawing a top edge and allowing the deep man Peter Siddle to settle comfortably under it. Given how hard Barath and Kraigg Brathwaite had worked to frustrate the visitors early, it was a wasteful end to their stand.

Brathwaite had already survived one chance, a more-difficult-than-it-looked caught and bowled to Peter Siddle before lunch, when Shane Watson jogged in to deliver the West Indian opener's 140th ball. It moved away a little, coaxing a firm footed push and an edge to the right of Ricky Ponting at second slip. As ever during the Australians' training sessions, Ponting had stood out, nailing numerous diving, one-handed catches in competitive drills. But he was if anything a little too eager this time, diving fractionally past the ball, which struck him on the wrist before dropping slowly to the turf.

David Warner's introduction to the bowling crease provided another reminder that the visitors were doing it tough on an unresponsive pitch but for a moment it appeared he had extracted a third chance from Brathwaite's bat. Tossing up a leg break that gripped and turned, Warner saw Brathwaite aim a drive and the ball fly to Michael Clarke at slip but for it to elude his usually safe hands. Brathwaite was in little doubt he had hit it, raising his bat in acknowledgement of a 50 but quickly withdrew the celebration as umpire Ian Gould signalled byes. But Brathwaite did not have long to wait to reach his milestone, swatting Warner forward of square leg two balls later. Warner also did not have long to wait for a wicket, clinging on to Kirk Edwards' stinging back foot drive in his next over.