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The West Indies are banking on a shorter format closing the gap between them and Australia in the first Twenty20, in Hobart on Sunday.
After failing to get close to Australia in the four completed one-day matches – the third was washed out – Windies coach David Williams admitted it was a “blessing” the tourists could now focus on a new format.
“We’ve got a good record against Australia, we’re two and zip,” Williams said.
“The guys are pretty confident in the shorter version of the game, we feel like we’ve got guys who can destroy any attack, like (Kieron) Pollard and (Dwayne) Smith and Chris Gayle.
“It’s going to be good for them.”
Pollard and Smith showed glimpses of their hitting power through the one-dayers, but Gayle struggled, with 55 runs in five innings.
Gayle at least has seen the last of Doug Bollinger this summer – the Australian quick removed the Windies skipper at the MCG on Friday night, the sixth time this season – and has an excellent record in Twenty20 cricket.
Gayle starred in the previous match the sides played, when he thrashed 88 from 50 balls at The Oval in last year’s Twenty20 world championships in England.
Williams, whose side is aiming to bounce back from a 125-run drubbing in the last one-dayer, was hopeful Gayle had at least one more big knock in him before he departed Australia.
“We all know what Chris Gayle can do regardless of whether it’s Test-match, 50-over or Twenty20 cricket,” he said.
“He’s a giant of a man and we hope that he’s going to come good in the Twenty20.
“He did struggle in the 50-over game, but he’s a guy whose good performance is just around the corner.”
The West Indies are also hopeful paceman Kemar Roach has overcome an ankle injury and can play in Hobart and in Tuesday’s second game, at the SCG.
West Indies (from): Chris Gayle (capt), Narsingh Deonarine, Travis Dowlin, Wavell Hinds, Nikita Miller, Runako Morton, Brendan Nash, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Gavin Tonge.
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