A gritty century from Travis Head has swung the first Test in Australia’s favour, with Josh Hazlewood’s two scalps having the Windies in all sorts in their second innings.

The West Indies are 2-7 in their second innings on day two at teh Adelaide Oval, with Kirk McKenzie (5) and Alick Athanaze (0) at the crease.

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Josh Hazlewood picked up where he left off in the first innings, with Tangerine Chanderpaul caught behind by Alex Carey for a golden duck with the first ball of his spell.

He then had West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite caught by Travis Head for 1 as the toursits slumped to 2-1.

“That was a brilliant catch from Travis Head.” Michael Vaughan said.

A gritty century from Travis Head well and truly swung the first Test in Australia’s favour despite a relentless attack from the West Indies on day two.

Australia has been bowled out for 283, giving the hosts a 95-run first-innings lead, while West Indies debutant Shamar Joseph finished with 5-94.

Head, who was caught at deep fine leg by Kavem Hodge moments before the tea break, smacked a brilliant 119 to rescue the Australians after a nervy start.

Earlier, the hosts took the lead at 1.38pm local time, but their tail was exposed after Alex Carey was caught behind off the bowling of debutant Justin Greaves seven overs after lunch.

Brendon Julian said it was still “game on”, and Brett Lee said the West Indies were “in the game” after the wicket with plenty on offer for the bowlers.

Mitchell Starc, however, was stubborn in a 38-ball stay that allowed Head to begin accelerating ahead of the tea break and start to end the West Indies resistance.

Head then reached three figures with a boundary at the end of the 69th over, to bring up his seventh Test century off 122 balls — much to the excitement of his hometown fans that came to see him.

The South Australian has since continued to put his foot down with consecutive sixes in the 70th over.

Earlier, Mitch Marsh was the last wicket to fall before lunch after a carefully laid trap set by the West Indies. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite had just moved Greaves into a shallow third slip seconds before he took a catch in the unorthodox position off the bowling of Kemar Roach.

Mark Waugh called it “great cricket”, while Kerry O’Keeffe pointed to the rareness of the move, saying: “You don’t often see that.”

The West Indies came within a whisker of having a fourth wicket in the session when, moments later, Head survived a DRS review for LBW on umpire’s call.

Usman Khawaja (45) had fallen earlier in the first session after slashing at a wide ball from Greaves, who he edged to second slip.

Lee said at the time that he felt the West Indies could “smell a bit of blood here”.

Shemar Joseph’s own remarkable debut Test got even better with his first over of day two, as he added the wicket of Cameron Green to those of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne from day one.

Green was out tentatively prodding at a delivery just outside off stump that nipped away slightly to take his outside edge.

“He’s done it again, the kid!” Ian Smith said in Fox Cricket commentary.

Michael Vaughan and Mark Waugh both called Green’s shot a “nervy prod”, with Vaughan adding: “It’s a perfect start for the West Indies.”

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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Earlier, in his daily pitch inspection an hour before play, Fox Cricket’s Brendon Julian said he believed it will be another day suited to the bowlers, which is unusual for Adelaide Oval which typically has a good batting wicket on days two, three and four.

“This pitch had a bit of grass on it yesterday and we saw it swing and seam around,” Julian said. “I still think it’s going to seam around and swing today. Overcast conditions which will be good for bowling.

“What we did see yesterday was a bit of uneven bounce, and I think that’s what will happen today. All in all, a pretty good bowling day.”

Josh Hazlewood said Australia is hoping to “bat the whole day” after putting itself in a strong position entering the second day.

Australia was 59-2 at day one stumps, with Usman Khawaja not out 30 and Cameron Green on six.

It could have been an even better start for Australia had it not been for breakout star Joseph, who added 36 runs off 41 balls after West Indies found itself at 133-9.

Joseph further stamped his authority on the match with the ball in hand as he dismissed Smith, who joined Labuschagne as the two Australian batters to fall early in their first innings.

Still, Australia remains in control of the first Test after a stunning display from Josh Hazlewood, who finished with figures of 4-44.

Skipper Pat Cummins, having made the bold decision to send the West Indies out to bat first, also had four wickets.

Speaking to reporters after the first day’s action, Hazlewood said the Adelaide pitch had been “interesting”.

“Not much pace and bounce and the odd one nipped around. I love playing here,” he said.

“You don’t have to bowl too quick, just hang around the off stump. Hopefully we bat the whole day tomorrow.”

SMITH BACK AT WORK AFTER FIRST INNINGS FAILURE

In an ideal world for Australia, Steve Smith would be batting in the middle of Adelaide Oval on Thursday morning.

Instead, he was batting behind it, wasting no time in plotting redemption for his misfire as a Test opener on day one against the West Indies.

All roads since David Warner’s Test retirement led to yesterday afternoon, when Smith made his debut as an opener in the five-day format.

The script was building towards a fairy tale moment – but it belonged to Shemar Joseph, not Smith.

The 24-year-old West Indies speedster, with his first ball in Test cricket no less, charged in from the Cathedral End and nicked off the Australian superstar.

He went wild in celebration, and later told reporters it was a moment he would remember for the rest of his life.

Smith might, too, for different reasons. But 75 minutes before play started on day two, he was already taking the necessary steps to try and forget it.

Only two players from Australia’s XI were in the nets at that time; Alex Carey and Nathan Lyon, who were working on their wicketkeeping and bowling respectively.

The only man padded up was Steve Smith who was getting to work, hoping to find something to help recapture his best form.

It was a mixed session, with deliveries mainly focused on targeting his pads, the rib cage, and Smith’s fourth-to-fifth stump area.

It is the latter channel in which Joseph said the West Indies had identified as a weakness for Smith – and it is where the debutant sent down his first ball that produced a wicket.

Smith’s session lasted roughly 15 minutes, after which he appeared to be in relatively high spirits as he shared a laugh with an Australian staffer, and spoke with Fox Cricket’s Brendon Julian, before heading back into the changerooms.

GREEN TO “FEEL THE PRESSURE”

It shapes up being an important day for Cameron Green, who resumes Day 2 on six not out.

Green was recalled into the Australian side to bat at four, after Steve Smith was promoted up the order to replace the retired David Warner.

After Smith failed to inspire when dismissed for 12, the Aussie selectors will be hoping Green can justify the decision with a big score.

Fox Sports’ Jim Callinan posed to Fox Cricket’s Brendon Julian whether this is the day he has to “repay the faith”.

“You never want to walk into an innings thinking this is where I have to repay the selectors faith or whether I’m under pressure ,” Julian said.

“For Cam Green, he’ll just want to find bat on ball early on and just find his feet.

“Yes, he’ll feel the pressure, no doubt about that … I think it’s a matter of calming and settling into their innings and then he’s away.”