Voges and Marsh put Australia in command

Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh racked up centuries in a formidable 317-run partnership as Australia dominated day one of the first Test against West Indies.

The hosts closed on 438-3 as Voges – scoring a career-best 174 not out – and Marsh (139) profited from some tepid Windies bowling to assert their authority in Hobart.

Yet the day had held such promise for the tourists after the opening trio of Joe Burns (33), David Warner (64) and captain Steve Smith (10) fell to leave Australia struggling somewhat on 121-3.

That only handed Voges and Marsh the platform to do the damage, the pair playing with fluency and freedom to expose a Windies attack lacking confidence and ideas amid a poor run of form.

Only Jomel Warrican (2-11) and Shannon Gabriel (1-59) made any headway with the ball and the home side will sense a huge first-innings score is achievable when play resumes on Friday.

Australia won the toss and elected to bat despite a green tinge still being visible on the pitch.

Warner and Burns made that look like a good decision, although the former was dropped by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin for what was a difficult chance.

The tourists, who bowled too full with the new ball, were left to regret that as the openers put on 70 in the first 10 overs.

But Burns was bowled in the next over as a Gabriel delivery came back in off the seam to get between bat and pad.

That prompted a brief Windies fightback, which gathered pace with an excellent delivery from Warrican.

The left-arm spinner pitched a ball on middle and the turn caught Smith’s edge and was snaffled by Jermaine Blackwood at slip.

Warner had looked in complete control, but departed for 64 off 61 when he tickled a Warrican ball down leg side through to Ramdin.

Voges picked up where the openers left off, though, allowing Marsh to settle into his innings.

Hard running from Marsh allowed Voges to bring up his third Test century, coming at a run a ball, and the pair went on to build towards double-centuries.

Play came to a close with Voges just 26 runs shy of that landmark, while Marsh needs only 10 more to surpass his previous highest score.