Brilliant double centuries by Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith kept Australia in a dominant position against the West Indies on the second day of the first Test at Perth Stadium, here on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Labuschagne (204) completed his second Test double century while Smith (200 not out) made his fourth as Australia declared their first innings at 598\/4.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With this, Perth witnessed the rare occurrence of two double hundreds in a single team innings. This was only the 17th instance of two double hundreds coming in a team innings in Test cricket history and also the first such instance since January 2012 when Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke made double hundreds against India in Adelaide.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In reply to their hosts' daunting first innings total, the West Indies openers -- Kraigg Brathwaite (18 not out), and Tagenarine Chanderpaul (47 not out) negotiated a tricky 25-over phase to put up 74 on the board without losing a wicket at stumps on Day 2.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Resuming from a strong 293\/2, Australia continued to stay on top as Smith and Labuschagne combined to torment the visitors, sharing a huge 251-run partnership to take Australia past 400 and into the declaration zone.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Labuschagne departed soon after his double hundred but Travis Head and Smith scored briskly to push Australia past 500. Head fell one short of a deserved hundred, but Smith got to his double century before Australia declared, giving themselves a good chance to push for that place in the ICC World Test Championship 2023 final.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In response, debutant Tagenarine Chanderpaul and skipper Kraigg Brathwaite, put on a 74-run opening stand to carry the tourists to stumps, but a massive task awaits the Windies on day three.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Labuschagne departed soon after his double hundred but Travis Head and Smith scored briskly to push Australia past 500. Head fell one short of a deserved hundred, but Smith got to his double century before Australia declared, giving themselves a good chance to push for that place in the ICC World Test Championship 2023 final.<\/p>\r\n\r\n