SYDNEY (AP) Kraigg Brathwaite and Darren Bravo provided the West Indies with steady progress on day one of the third test against Australia, steering the tourists to 92-1 at lunch Sunday at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Shai Hope, a late selection after Rajendra Chandrika injured his groin in the warm up, was the only wicket to fall in the opening session, edging a delivery from Josh Hazelwood in the fifth over to wicketkeeper Peter Nevill for nine.
Brathwaite was 50 not out and Bravo was unbeaten on 32 at the interval.
Brathwaite scored his 50 off 78 balls with seven boundaries for his second half-century of the tour as part of a 79-run partnership with Bravo as the West Indies built a good platform ahead of the afternoon session.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon was introduced in only the eighth over as the hosts tried to extract some early turn out of a usually spin-friendly SCG pitch. Lyon beat the bat on a few occasions but couldn't make a further breakthrough.
West Indies captain Jason Holder won the toss and opted to bat first in cool, overcast conditions.
Australia made one change, selecting left-arm spin bowler Steve O'Keefe for paceman Peter Siddle, who has ankle soreness. O'Keefe was playing his first match since his debut against Pakistan in 2014.
O'Keefe came into the attack late in the first session, which marked the first time since 2006 that Australia had started two specialist spinners for a home test.
Australia leads the series 2-0 after winning the first test at Hobart by an innings and 212 runs and a series clinching 177-run victory in the second test at Melbourne.
