Head denied double-century as Aust declare

Travis Head's career-best innings has powered Australia to a commanding position of 7(dec)-511 on day two against West Indies at Adelaide Oval. 

As they have in past pink-ball Tests, Australia declared as the second session on day two approached its end after the tourists claimed a lucky break to dispatch the feverish Head for 175.

The West Indies have managed 0-14 at tea, with Australia applying plenty of early pressure through pink-ball guru Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland, who has replaced injured captain Pat Cummins in the attack.

Only a miscommunication between batters could draw the curtain on The Travis Show - Cameron Green edged the ball down short fine leg and appealed to Head for two runs before appearing to change his mind, leaving Head stranded early in the second session.

The 28-year-old local hero made little effort to hide his frustration at missing out on Australia's third double-century of the series but left the pitch to rapturous applause regardless.

With 175 runs from only 219 balls, Head beat his previous personal best of 161 and fell with the third-highest Test score by a South Australian at Adelaide Oval.

Head's rapid-fire display turned the heat on the West Indies' depleted bowling attack and will go some way to helping him push a case for selection on next year's tour of India.

Green (9) went shortly afterward, clipping the ball onto the stumps as he tried to leave Alzarri Joseph's delivery.

The 23-year-old never looked settled at the crease and his role in the run-out clearly left him rattled.

Called in to replace the injured Josh Hazlewood, Michael Neser passed a concussion test after a delivery struck his helmet and remained at the crease to post 18 runs before captain Kraigg Brathwaite trapped him lbw.

Wicketkeeper Alex Carey pitched in a helpful and unbeaten 41 before the hosts sent their rivals in.

The three wickets in the second session helped the West Indies halt Australia's momentum but the tourists will still need everything to go their way to avoid a 2-0 series whitewash.

That will start with avoiding the loss of cheap wickets under lights now that they have been sent in to bat.

For Australia, the series has the potential to finish as their most dominant with the bat in history - thanks in no small part to a 297-run partnership from Head and Labuschagne (163) earlier on.

Labuschagne became the equal-second fastest to 3000 Test runs behind Don Bradman on Friday, bringing up the milestone in his 51st innings.

The pair exploited the sluggish West Indies attack with ease before Labuschagne was caught behind trying to square-drive Devon Thomas.

With debutant Marquino Mindley injured, only Joseph had regularly been able to bowl at speeds of more than 130km/h while the West Indies' lines and lengths left something to be desired on Friday.

Across almost three innings, Australia have lost only 13 wickets for 1291 runs at an average of 99.31, with Roston Chase (0-117) and Anderson Phillip (0-115) especially expensive for the tourists in Adelaide.