PERTH: Australia look set for a big total after reaching 339-3 on the first day of the third and final Test against West Indies in Perth.
Openers Shane Watson and Simon Katich put on 132 before Watson fell for 89.
Skipper Ricky Ponting was forced to retire hurt on 23 after being struck on the arm by Kemar Roach, before Katich fell one run short of his hundred.
But Mike Hussey (81 not out) and Marcus North (23 not out) saw the hosts, who lead the series 1-0, through to stumps.
Australia handed fast bowler Clint McKay his Test debut, the Victorian replacing the injured Peter Siddle, while spinner Nathan Hauritz was cleared of a finger injury.
The tourists made three changes to the side that drew the second Test in Adelaide, injury victims Shivnarine Chanderpaul (finger) and Adrian Barath (hamstring) and the the omitted Darren Sammy replaced by debutant Gavin Tonge, Travis Dowlin and Narsingh Deonarine.
Having won the toss, Ponting elected to bat after previously saying he would never bat first at the Waca again after last year’’s disastrous first session against South Africa.
But Watson and Katich put on 106 in the morning session after Windies captain Chris Gayle dropped Watson at first slip when he was on seven.
Watson went on to plunder the bowling at will, hitting 15 boundaries in his 89, before being caught behind off the bowling of fast bowler Roach.
Ponting was struck on the left arm by the second ball he faced from Roach, and although he hit two fours and a six in one over and made 23, he was eventually forced to leave the field.
Ponting was taken to hospital but cleared of any break and will resume his battle with Roach tomorrow.
However, Ponting may find himself in hot water with match officials after being involved in a heated exchange with Dwayne Bravo that could see both players disciplined, as umpire Ian Gould was forced to separate them.
The tourists were then repelled by a solid partnership from Hussey and Katich that took the Australians to 217-1 at tea.
Katich was fortunate to survive a spectacular dropped catch by Dowlin at short-leg early in the final session but was out for 99 when he chased a ball well outside off-stump from Roach.
Despite being under significant pressure for his place in the side, local boy Hussey looked untroubled in taking Australia through to stumps with fellow Western Australia player North.
Gayle will reflect on a day when several dropped catches and misfields proved costly, and he is also likely to come in for some criticism for the use of his bowlers.
Gayle opted to use his spinners for most of the final session, despite having Roach (1-67) rested and available to attack the Australians with the sea breeze behind him.
More mysteriously, having bowled Roach into the wind during the first session, Gayle chose the same strategy for the final six overs before stumps.
More: continued here