West Indies wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva has put down an early chance, gifting Australian opener Usman Khawaja an extra life on 3.
Alzarri Joseph found the left-hander’s outside edge in the second over of the innings, with Da Silva lunging low to his left with one outstretched glove — but he grassed the catch.
The Australians are 0-9 in the fourth overs, with openers Khawaja (4*) and Steve Smith (5*) unbeaten in the middle.
Australia’s bowl-first decision for the first Test against the West Indies paid dividends on Wednesday with the tourists freefalling after inspired spells from Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
The West Indies were bowled out for 188 at Adelaide Oval despite a courageous 10th-wicket stand between Kemar Roach and Shemar Joseph, worth 55 runs.
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Some desperation had briefly showed on the Australians soon after lunch as a partnership between Kirk McKenzie and Kavem Hodge grew. A review was then wasted on a speculative appeal for caught behind, with replays showing a massive gap between the ball and McKenzie’s outside edge.
But the partnership didn’t last much longer with Hazlewood finding Hodge’s outside edge for the returning Cameron Green to take his second catch of the day in gully.
And McKenzie soon followed him into the Adelaide Oval sheds, bringing up a half century before he was also caught behind off Hazlewood to well and truly trigger a collapse.
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A truly bewildering Aussie review | 00:54
The floodgates were open with Justin Greaves falling to a lazy drive that was hit on the up, and straight to Marnus Labuschagne, at cover.
“That’s a bit too easy,” Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket. “That’s just too easy for a No. 6 in Test match cricket. You’ve got to be a bit more vigilant than that.”
Cummins ensured the West Indies would stay there when he claimed his third with Joshua Da Silva out on the pull.
The following over, Mitchell Starc had his first with Gudakesh Motie caught by Nathan Lyon, while two balls later, Cummins nicked off Alzarri Joseph.
In the first session, Australia captain Cummins snared a breakthrough in his first over of the Test, removing West Indies opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul for 6, before his latest stunner dismissed Kraigg Brathwaite for 13.
After a run of 34 consecutive dot balls, Chanderpaul wafted at a wide delivery from Cummins in the 10th over, with the thick outside edge flying towards gully, where Cameron Green held onto superb catch above his head.
Four overs later and a brilliant delivery from Cummins – called an “absolute jaffa” by Brett Lee — straightened off the surface slightly and rattled the top of Brathwaite’s off-stump to leave the West Indies in danger at 2-27.
West Indies looked to prevent any further damage before lunch but with just 15 minutes to go, Alick Athanaze shouldered arms to a full Hazlewood delivery which nipped back and took out his off-stump. It was Hazlewood’s 250th Test wicket.
Mark Waugh called it a “soft”, albeit “unlucky”, dismissal in commentary after Athanaze looked promising, while he added that the West Indies were then in “survival mode”.
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‘I feel sorry for them!’ | 01:51
PLAYING XIs
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Kemar Roach
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Before play, Cummins had won the toss and elected to bowl first under grey skies, meaning Steve Smith was made to wait for his first chance to open the batting.
Australia looked dangerous from early, however, with Brathwaite lucky to survive after nearly chopping on to Josh Hazlewood in the third over.
It is the first time since losing heavily to the West Indies in 1980 that Australia has won the toss and elected to bowl first in Adelaide.
Australia also lost in England to Adelaide the year before having sent its rival in to bat first.
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite was pleased with the decision, saying he would have elected to bat first had he won the toss.
But Fox Cricket’s Brett Lee backed Cummins’ gamble.
“I think it’s a great call, I think it’s the right call,” he said.
“Aussies to set the tone first and get that opportunity with this brand new ball.”
Michael Vaughan added: “It didn’t surprise me (Australia bowled).
“There’s just enough there and against a team so inexperienced, I think Pat Cummins knows the pitch won’t deteriorate for a few days, so there’s a chance to put the West Indies under pressure with some early wickets.”
The decision will, however, alleviate some of the pressure on Smith who will open the batting for Australia in place of the retired David Warner.
Warner bid farewell to the game’s longest format in Sydney last week, paving the way for Smith to move up the order.
Cameron Green was re-called at No. 4, allowing Australia to field what it believes are its six best batters.
The West Indies, meanwhile, are playing three debutants in Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves and Shamar Joseph.