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The West Indies will host Australia in the first of three Test matches at Bridgetown in Barbados and we’ll bring you live scores and commentary of the Test cricket action, starting at midnight AEST on Sunday.
It has been a fairly even tour so far, with both teams sharing the ODI and the T20I series and that is a surprise given the difference in the limited overs rankings between the two sides. The five-day format pushes this gap further and that should start Australia as favourites.
But all that is on paper. The ground reality is that the West Indies are a side that have rediscovered their lost fighting spirit. Their mental toughness. And their pride from the 1970s and 1980s.
In Darren Sammy they have a captain who epitomises all these characteristics and punches beyond his weight. He is his players’ inspiration and that is exactly what the West Indies will need when they take on Australia in this first Test match.
They have a slightly newer look to the Test side as compared to the one-day team. Kraigg Brathwaite and Kirk Edwards will join the West Indian top-order while stodgy customer Shivnarine Chanderpaul returns to the middle-order.
Kemar Roach is the lone surviving pace bowler from the ODIs and he will be joined Fidel Edwards and the now-fit Ravi Rampaul in the 11.
Australia will welcome the return of their captain Michael Clarke, who missed the ODI series to an injury. Clarke has a double-century and a 300 to his name in two of the last three Tests he played and his batting should stabilise a batting order that hasn’t been at its best in the limited overs version of the game.
Ricky Ponting should add solidity to the middle-order as well but the big question will be around the top three of the line-up. While Dave Warner should retain his opening slot, it remains to be seen whether Shane Watson is sent out as his partner or if he bats at three.
In case of the latter option, Ed Cowan will open the innings with Warner, a continuation from the series against India.
If everyone’s fit, then Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle and James Pattinson should form the pace attack while Nathan Lyon will go in as the side’s lone spinner. Difficult to see Australia play two spinners, which means that Michael Beer will remain on the bench.
Matthew Wade will make his Test match debut.
Join us for the live coverage of the West Indies v Australia first Test match.
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