A turgid opening day to the Test could have swung in the hosts favour had Carlton Baugh held on to a regulation caught behind chance to remove Mike Hussey in the final session, however that missed opportunity keeps the match evenly poised.

Shane Watson was the only Australia batsman to reach 50 but became the second of Shillingford's victims when he was caught sharply by Adrian Barath at short leg.

Ricky Ponting's mixed form continued when, after making only seven, he edged Roach behind the wicket and Darry Sammy claimed a sharp rebound catch after Baugh had spilled.

In just the first over, West Indies thought they had removed the free-hitting David Warner when Fidel Edwards pinned him in front of his off-stump.

Umpire Marais Erasmus raised his finger but, not noticing the leg-before, captain Sammy thought Warner had been given caught behind and cancelled the appeal as keeper Baugh had not taken a clean catch.

Intent

As a result, Warner remained and moved on to 29 before he tried to chase spinner Shillingford and only succeeded in finding the hands of Sammy, ironically placed to seal the wicket.

Ed Cowan then went for 28, getting rapped on the ankles by a full Roach delivery, with Ponting following after the lunch break when he was tucked up by the same bowler, with Sammy again pouching after Baugh had initially dropped the chance.

That brought Michael Clarke to the crease and, after working Shillingford to the leg-side boundary to reach 6,000 Test runs, he and Watson steered Australia through to tea.

Captain Clarke signalled his intent after the interval with back-to-back boundaries off Roach and appeared to be set for a big score when, after originally being adjudged lbw off Shillingford, he had the decision overturned upon review.

But the right-hander could only add four further runs before inexplicably pulling a Narsingh Deonarine long-hop straight down the throat of Shillingford at deep square-leg.

Australia were reduced to 178-5 moments later when Shillingford continued his day to remember by snaring Watson, who had struck seven boundaries during his 172-ball 56.

New man Hussey (26 not out) had just four runs to his name when he was given a life by Baugh, and that miss could prove costly as he and Matthew Wade (11no) took the tourists through to the close without further alarm.