Windies injury woes unprecedented: Simmons

Coach Phil Simmons says West Indies' current run of injuries is worse than any other in his three years in charge as the side waits on the results of scans to replacement quick Marquino Mindley's right hamstring. 

Scrambling to cover the losses of Kemar Roach (hamstring), Jayden Seales (knee), Kyle Mayers (shoulder) and Nkrumah Bonner (concussion), the tourists flew Mindley out from the Caribbean for the second Test of the two-game series against Australia, which began on Thursday.

Mindley took to the pitch only two days after arriving in Adelaide but when he hobbled off soon after, clutching at his leg, West Indies were forced to put Seales on as a replacement fielder.

The Test debutant had managed only two overs before injury struck him down.

"It's been a tough week, trying to make sure we had balance especially with the amount of injuries we had," Simmons said.

"This is the first time where we've gone on a tour and we've been struck like this.

"It's weird injuries too. Mayers' shoulder, Kemar was doing well and then hamstring. It's difficult to understand."

Simmons was unsure of the exact nature of Mindley's injury immediately after the game.

"He had a strain in the hamstring but he's going for scans this evening and we'll find out for sure," he said.

The latest injury came only hours after West Indies announced 36-year-old Omar Phillips would come into the squad as an emergency fielder.

Phillips currently plays club cricket in Adelaide and replaced Seales in the field once he arrived at the ground on day one.

Prior to Thursday, Phillips had not featured in a game of first-class cricket since 2017 and last played for West Indies in 2009, when he appeared in two Tests.

It was a tough evening for the West Indian attack, whose moments of class were overshadowed by long periods of uninspired bowling.

Joseph claimed the significant scalp of David Warner (21), who had looked ominous with three boundaries in the over in which he was dismissed, but fellow quicks Jason Holder and Anderson Phillip were sluggish early on.

While Mindley's Test debut ended in pain, Devon Thomas celebrated his with the wicket of Usman Khawaja (62), which gave West Indies a much-needed breakthrough.

Steve Smith went shortly afterwards without scoring but West Indies could not use the two quick wickets to spark a collapse, instead relying heavily on spin and paying the price.

Labuschagne and Head had little trouble slapping Kraigg Brathwaite and Roston Chase around and by the third session, the Australian pair had broken the tourists' spirits with a 199-run partnership.

"The first two sessions, we were on target," Simmons said.

"The last session we let the runs flow again so I think that's disappointing."

At stumps on day one, Australia were well in control at 3-330.