Talking points: Shaky top order struggles again; Aussies saved by dropped catches; Shamar exposes rookies

Australia's start in the West Indies didn't go as expected after an inspired bowling performance from the hosts.

The batting from the Aussies puts an even brighter spotlight on the shaky top order.

Australia's line-up looked different for this match with Marnus Labuschagne axed and Steve Smith missing out due to a gruesome injury.

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Josh Inglis and Sam Konstas were the replacements but neither impressed.

Here are the talking points from day one.

Is it greener up the top?

When Marnus Labuschagne was dropped, you'd think the questions would stop.

But there's arguably even more now.

The top order problem has created quite a conundrum.

Labuschagne is better suited to No.3 and Green has played his best cricket at No.4.

But right now, there's Steve Smith at 4 and Labuschagne is horribly out of form.

While Smith is still running around, Green will have to play first drop. Pat Cummins said he's a "long-term option" there but his three innings since being brought back into the team indicate he may not be suited to combatting the new ball.

It hasn't been the greatest start after scores of 4 and 0 in the WTC final and he fell cheaply again on day one, out for 3 caught in the slips off Shamar Joseph.

It should've been a second-ball duck too, considering Green was dropped at fourth slip by Brandon King.

Pre-match, Adam Gilchrist had expressed his doubts over Green as a first drop batter.

"I think he'd be better suited, longer term, at four or five," he said on SEN.

Meanwhile, Josh Inglis also barely troubled the scorers at No.4, dismissed for five.

Across Inglis' three Sheffield Shield matches last season where he scored 363 runs, he batted at six every time.

When Smith returns from injury, it's likely Inglis will be the one who misses out, but the question that will linger is this: Who's better at No.6; Inglis or Webster?

As Australia prepares for the Ashes, this West Indies tour could be a glimpse into the batting line-up in the summer.

The development of Konstas is a curious element too. His defence was broken apart by Joseph but the time to pick and stick is now with Khawaja nearing 39 and retirement.

In a perfect world, Khawaja, Konstas, Green, Smith, Head, Webster and Carey will make up the top seven.

But that will require a change of fortunes from Green across the next five possible innings' in this series.

He's only early into his career at this spot, but this Ashes series will be too important for an experiment to keep going without the desired outcome.

Could've been worse for Australia

Usman Khawaja's score of 47 went a long way to saving the Aussies from complete embarrassment in the first innings but in truth he was lucky to survive to double figures.

On six, Khawaja edged to first slip off Joseph.

However, Windies skipper Roston Chase dropped the chance that went low to his right.

"That is a fairly simple catch," Greg Blewett said on ESPN's commentary.

When Khawaja was on 45 he was dropped again, this time by King diving to his right in the gully.

It didn't cost them too much.

However, time will tell how crucial those 39 runs will be.

How Shamar planned for demise of two rookies

He's only early into his Test career, but Shamar Joseph is already an elite talent on the microphone.

Post-stumps on ESPN's Around The Wicket, the fast bowler explained how he trapped Konstas in front and bowled Webster with an absolute ripper.

"That's probably one of the best deliveries I've ever bowled in my life," he laughed.

But it was all in the plan.

Joseph's first delivery of his 12th over was on a good length outside off stump. The second ball was fuller, towards off stump. Third delivery, shorter and rearing up near the stomach area. Fourth was similar, albeit away from the body of Webster which he pushed to point.

The fifth was much fuller, well outside off stump and driven for a boundary.

Then he straightened it right up and beat the outside edge, hitting the top of off stump.

In the WTC final, Webster survived an lbw shout that would've been out in the first innings after the ball went in the gap between bat and pad. He was then trapped in front in the second innings with the exact same delivery and given out.

Joseph had this in mind.

"I was trying to set up my over, trying to get the ball nipping back into him because it's something that would play with his mind, looking for the ball to come back through his gate," he said.

"And that was something we talk about a lot, planning our overs out as a young bowling group and trying to be consistent."

As for Konstas, much has been made of his defensive deficiencies.

In the fourth over of the match, Joseph beat the outside edge of Konstas with his first ball. The second was angled into him and straightened up, which he defended. The third was shorter, outside off stump and defended. His fourth delivery came back in and hit the pad. It was originally not out but reversed by DRS.

The fast bowler gave praise to bowling coach Ravi Rampaul's video analysis given on Konstas before explaining the simple process.

"I think I set it up perfectly towards him, a few outswingers and then get the ball to nip back because he's looking to get outside off stump and then I got one to nip back through the gate," he said.