After declaring on 449 for nine last night, the West Indies quickly reduced Australia to 84 for three this morning, but the tourists battled back thanks to middle-order duo Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey.

Captain Clarke made 73 while Hussey was still there on 47 not out when bad light brought an early end to proceedings at Kensington Oval with Australia on 248 for five.

Australia made a flying start to their reply last night, racing to 44 without loss, but they had only added six runs to that tally this morning when they lost their first wicket, Ed Cowan edging Darren Sammy through to wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh when on 14.

Home skipper Sammy then produced a similar delivery to snare Australia's other left-handed opener 15 runs later, David Warner's edge being snapped up by Darren Bravo at second slip as he departed eight runs short of his half-century.

Australia's problems got worse four overs later when Ricky Ponting was run out for four, the former captain left fuming following a mix-up with Shane Watson.

At that point the West Indies looked on course to secure a sizeable first-innings lead, but the arrival of Clarke slowed their progress.

He joined forces with Watson in a 49-run stand to help Australia go to lunch on 133 for three.

Clarke survived a scare just before the interval, though, when he was given out caught behind to Devendra Bishoo when on 21, only to successfully get the decision overturned following a review.

Australia would have been hoping to build on that recovery in the afternoon session but they suffered an immediate setback when Watson was dismissed off the second ball after the restart for 39.

Kemar Roach was the successful bowler as he had Watson caught behind by Baugh after enticing an outside edge.

That would be the West Indies' only breakthrough of the afternoon though as Clarke - with his 22nd Test fifty - and Hussey started another recovery.

Those two put on 82 for the fifth wicket but they could not see it through to the close as Clarke was dismissed with the score on 215 as he sought to hit Bishoo over the top but only succeeded in skying the ball to Narsingh Deonarine at mid-on.

Hussey and Test debutant Matthew Wade (19 not out) ensured there were no more Australia setbacks before the close, but the tourists will begin tomorrow still 201 runs adrift and with plenty of work still to do.