Australia have started their World Test Championship campaign with a dominant 159-run victory over the West Indies in the first Test at Kensington Oval, Barbados. The Aussies were lauded for their performance, which saw them overcome a shaky start to seize control of the match.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Australia were met by a spirited West Indies bowling attack. Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph proved particularly challenging, making life difficult for the Australian top order. Australia's first innings was eventually cut short for 180. In response, the West Indies managed a slender lead of 10 runs, posting 190. Roston Chase, captaining the side for the first time, and Shai Hope offered resistance with scores of 44 and 48 respectively.

Australia's second innings began nervously, mirroring their first. At 4-92, the match hung in the balance. However, a crucial partnership between Travis Head and Beau Webster steadied the ship. Head, who was named Player of the Match, scored a valuable 61, while Webster contributed 63. Their 102-run partnership helped Australia reach a total of 310, setting the West Indies a target of 301.

The West Indies' chase unravelled dramatically in the face of some excellent Australian bowling. Josh Hazlewood was the chief destroyer, claiming 5-43 as the home side collapsed to 141 all out. The dramatic collapse saw them lose all ten wickets in a chaotic evening session. Mitchell Starc also contributed with three wickets.

Several factors contributed to Australia's victory. After a shaky start, the partnerships in the second innings were vital. Head and Webster showed resilience and skill to rescue the innings and build a defendable total. Australia's bowling attack, led by Hazlewood, proved too strong for the West Indies batsmen. They consistently applied pressure and took advantage of the variable bounce on offer from the Kensington Oval pitch. Australia's fielding, while not perfect, was good enough to support the bowlers.

The West Indies, on the other hand, will be disappointed with their performance. Their batting was inconsistent, and they were unable to build substantial partnerships. While their bowlers showed promise, they lacked the consistency to maintain pressure throughout the match. Dropped catches also proved costly, with Australia taking full advantage of the opportunities they were given.

For Australia, the win represents a positive start to their World Test Championship campaign. The victory was achieved despite the absence of key players such as Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, providing opportunities for players like Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis. The second Test will be played in St George's, Grenada, from July 3-7.