Shane Watson top-scored for Australia with 56

Batting cautiously on the lifeless track of Queen’s Park Oval, Watson hit 56 from 172 deliveries as Australia reached 208-5 at stumps.

Leftie duo Mike Hussey and Matthew Wade, who both survived dropped catches, were unbeaten at close with 26 and 11 runs respectively.

Australia are leading the three-Test 1-0 after a dramatic three-wicket victory in the first Test at Barbados.

For the first time in four years, Australia played two regular spinners with Michael Beer coming in to partner Nathan Lyon.

West Indies VS Australia: Shillingford claimed two wickets

West Indies Shane Shillingford, who returned to the highest level of game after one and half-year to replace Devendra Bishoo after undergoing remedial work on his action, also shared the honours of day with Watson by claiming two wickets for 56 runs.

Opted to bat, David Warner (29) and Ed Cowan (28) got Australia off to a cautious start and drove up the score to 53 before former spooned a simple catch to skipper Darren Sammy off Shillingford at covers.

Cowan’s run of below par form continued as he snared leg-before to paceman Kemar Roach in the final over before lunch.

West Indies VS Australia: Ponting fell for seven runs

Australia were not recovered from the pre-lunch blows yet before Roach struck again to remove struggling Ricky Ponting (7), who was squared up by a delivery outside off-stump that took the edge and flew to gloveman Carlton Baugh at chest height.

Baugh failed to secure the ball in his glove in two attempts before Sammy stepped across from first slip to grab the rebound.

Under the horrible circumstances Watson, who had came after Warner’s dismissal, combined with his skipper Michael Clarke (45) for a 84-run stand to steady Australia.

Clarke hit eight boundaries in his 99-ball knock before returning to pavilion after gifting a catch to Shillingford off spinner Narsingh Deonarine shortly into the final session.

Watson struggled to score after tea and eventually fell to Shillingford caught by Adien Barath.

West Indies VS Australia 2nd Test Scorecard