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West Indies missed a golden opportunity to win the first ODI against Australia and they will now need to go harder at their opponents when the two sides meet at Kingstown for the second second ODI. We’ll bring you the live scores and commentary of the action from 12.30am AEDT.
A slow pitch at the Arnos Vale Ground made life difficult for batsmen and it will be no different in the second game at the same venue.
Australia hobbled along to what seemed a below-par score of 204 batting first, but bowled exceedingly well to run through the West Indian batting.
Barring a fourth wicket stand between Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Bravo and a swing-a-minute innings from captain Darren Sammy when all was almost lost for the home side, none of the West Indian batters lasted any more than 15 balls at the crease.
The pitch afforded turn for Xavier Doherty but there was nothing in his bowling that suggested that he deserved his four-wicket haul. Especially after he was carted for three sixes in his very first over by Samuels.
But the West Indian batting imploded in a now-familiar manner and Australia raced off to a 1-0 lead by 64 runs.
West Indies need a better batting balance in their 11. The openers are relatively inexperienced in the absence of Lendl Simmons and Adrian Barath and after Darren Bravo at four, it is the turn of the all-rounders to take the crease.
On a track more suited to the likes of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan, sloggers like Kieron Pollard seem to be batting far too up the order.
Unfortunately for the West Indies, the only two other squad members are both bowlers and that means that they are stuck with the same top-order for the first three games.
For the tourists, it will be a matter of adapting quickly to the slow, almost sub-continental nature of the pitch.
Matthew Wade was pushed down the order once again to accommodate Shane Watson at the top and it might remain like that for this game.
George Bailey, who was handed over a debut in place of a quick bowler, went on to top-score in the game. He should retain his place in the middle-order as well, but the Hussey brothers should bat at four and five.
The tourists could toy with the idea of playing an extra spin bowler, Nathan Lyon. Daniel Christian or one of the frontline batsmen could be made to sit out if the management harbours any such thoughts.
We will bring you the coverage throughout this second ODI of the series between West Indies and Australia from St. Vincent and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds from 12.30am AEDT.
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