On a Queen's Park Oval pitch so lifeless former Windies fast bowler Michael Holding felt a tombstone wouldn't have looked out of place on it, Shane Watson was the only Australian batsman to pass 50 in a tight day of Test match cricket.
At the end of play Michael Hussey (26no) and Matthew Wade (11no) were both at the crease having both been dropped early in their innings.
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Watson (56) shared an 84-run stand with Michael Clarke (45) that lasted over two hours as Windies spinners Shane Shillingford (2-56) and Narsingh Deonarine (1-78) made the most of the slow conditions to restrict Australia to less than 2.5 runs an over.
Shillingford, playing in his first Test since late 2010, was chosen ahead of young leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo and the decision paid immediate dividends when he had opener David Warner (29) caught at slip in his first over of the Test.
The NSW left-hander had earlier survived a confusing situation in the first over of the day when he was given out caught behind only for Windies' skipper Darren Sammy to retract the appeal when it became obvious the ball hadn't carried to wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh.
Impressive fast bowler Kemar Roach (2-77) then removed Ed Cowan (28) and Ricky Ponting (7) either side of lunch to reduce Australia to 3-83 before Clarke and Watson's stand.
Clarke, who had successfully overturned an lbw decision three overs earlier, holed out to Shillingford off Deonarine in the final session to end the partnership before Watson was caught well by Adrian Barath at short-leg off a bat-pad.
Earlier both teams sprung surprises with their team selections with Bishoo omitted for Shillingford by the hosts while vice-captain Kirk Edwards was replaced by Kieran Powell after succumbing to a knee injury.
Australia opted to go with Michael Beer in just his second Test after Peter Siddle (back stiffness) was ruled out while first Test man of the match Ryan Harris was surprisingly rested for young quick James Pattinson.
The match resumes at 10am (0000 Tuesday AEST).
