Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith heaped misery on the West Indies bowlers on Thursday as they blasted a double century each and helped Australia to a mammoth total of 598 for 4 declared on Day II of the opening Test at Optus Stadium.

The Windies trail by 524 runs at stumps after toiling in the field for 152.4 overs. But their fightback began well, as they ended the day on 74 without loss.

Skipper Brathwaite (18 batting) and debutant Tagenarine Chanderpaul (47 batting), son of former Windies legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul, successfully negotiated a period of hostile pace bowling to ensure a positive end to the day, albeit with several blows to the body.

The hosts closed their first innings when Travis Head was bowled for 99 by part-time spinner Brathwaite.

“I have felt really good for the last couple of weeks batting and fortunately was able to spend a good time out there yesterday (Wednesday) and today (Thursday),” Smith told reporters.

“I was playing each ball on its merit and I felt in good sync from the get-go.”

Australia dominated from the outset, with overnight batsmen Smith (200 not out) and Labuschagne (204) peeling off nearly four runs an over in the opening session.

Smith reached a milestone, working off-spinner Roston Chase down the ground for one to equal former great Sir Donald Bradman’s tally of 29 Test centuries.

Labuschagne continued to ride his luck from the previous day by narrowly evading the slips and gully, with a dropped caught-behind chance giving him another life on 194. He secured his second Test double hundred with a powerful cover drive.

Head took on the role of the aggressor after lunch as the top-ranked Test side accelerated and the visitors surrendered to the inevitability of a declaration.

Brief scores: Australia 598/4 decl. (M. Labuschagne 204, S. Smith 200 n.o., T. Head 99). West Indies 74/0 (T. Chanderpaul 47 batting). Stumps, Day II.