Tony Becca, Contributing Editor

Jamaica's wicketkeeper/batsman Carlton Baugh plays a big shot over square leg during his century against Australia at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium yesterday. At slip is the Australian captain Ricky Ponting (left) while the wicketkeeper is Brad Haddin. - Photo by Adrian Frater

THE AUSTRALIAN cricketers opened their tour of the Caribbean against a Jamaica XI at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium in Falmouth yesterday and, thanks to wicketkeeper/batsman Carlton Baugh Jnr, they got a good workout in the three-day game.

When bad light stopped play at 6:00 p.m. with 16 overs still to be bowled, the Australians were on 89 without loss, replying to the Jamaicans 297 with left-handers Phil Jaques on 44 and Simon Katich on 35. The match is the only warm-up for the tourists before the first Test scheduled for Sabina Park on Thursday.

After winning the toss and deciding to bat, Jamaica, after a lovely start during which they dashed to 50 without loss in the eighth over, were struggling at 117 for five in the 26th when Baugh joined Donovan Sinclair, 16, and proceeded to dominate the bowlers.

Eighth cEntury

The 25-year-old Baugh ticked off his eighth first-class century while scoring an undefeated 111 off 112 deliveries as he sent the fielders chasing leather for a long time on the large outfield, in West Indian terms, and in the hot sun.

In the over before lunch, Baugh, on seven, escaped when wicket-keeper Brad Haddin failed to come up with a difficult legside catch off pacer Stuart Clark.

After that, however, the little man simply went to town, his runs, his nine boundaries and two sixes, coming off blistering front-foot drives, mostly off pacers Mitchell Johnson and Clark, and off delicate sweep shots against legspinner Stuart MacGill - including one that sailed over Brett Lee's head, over the rope at backward square-leg, and away for six.

But for Baugh's innings, the tourists probably would have enjoyed an easy day.

With their bowlers, including MacGill, who picked up four for 79 off 21 overs, all getting a good workout, Jaques and Katich, left with 34 overs at the end of a long day during which the Australians bowled 69, survived a few anxious moments before batting confidently to the end of play.

Windies squad: Ramnaresh Sarwan (captain), Dwayne Bravo (vice captain), Sulieman Benn, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Ryan Hinds, Amit Jaggernauth, Runako Morton, Darren Sammy, Devon Smith, Brenton Parchment, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Jerome Taylor.