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Twenty years ago, Australia, powered by Steve Waugh at the peak of his batting prowess and Greg ‘Fat Cat’ Ritchie at the peak of his drinking in the crowd and running onto the ground prowess, won the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy.
It represented supremacy in the Test series between Australia and the West Indies, and they have held the trophy ever since.
But this summer, I fully expect the West Indies to regain it. Let’s go through the likely West Indies starting XI to see why.
Kraigg Brathwaite
At just 23 years of age with 24 Tests already under his belt, the Barbados-born right-hand opening batsman brims with confidence. In 2014, he averaged 77.9 with the bat. Yikes! Brathwaite is such a confident player that he chooses to spell both his first and last name incorrectly. Let’s see some of the Australians try that. Looking at you, Steve Smith.
Shai Hope
The other half of the West Indies’ youthful opening pair literally brings Hope to the team. Australia are Hope-less (or even Hopes-less) in comparison. As the 16th Century religious leader and cricket commentator Martin Luther said: “Everything that is done in the world is done by Hope.” Big wrap.
Darren Bravo
The 39-Test veteran has an outstanding Test record in the southern hemisphere, averaging 65.5 with the bat below the equator. By comparison, Sir Viv Richards averaged only 44.8 in the southern hemisphere. Oh, and did we mention that Bravo is Brian Lara’s cousin? The right genes and the right environment.
Marlon Samuels
The senior batsman in this powerhouse West Indies batting line-up, Samuels is one of those rare players who averages more while touring than on home territory. And not just a little more, almost 40 per cent more. Do you need any more evidence of his mental toughness? No, you do not.
Jermaine Blackwood
Only 12 matches into his career, Jamaican Jermaine Blackwood has already proven himself the critical cog in this West Indian machine, averaging 69.8 in victories compared to 22.9 in defeats. Obviously a danger player. If he scores big, the West Indies win. It’s that simple.
Denesh Ramdin
The 30-year-old wicketkeeper saw his average slump to 22.5 when he was burdened with the captaincy, in much the same way that Adam Gilchrist’s dropped to 33.9 when similarly burdened. Now that Jason Holder has taken the reins for the West Indies, expect Ramdin to have a Gilchristian resurgence.
Jason Holder
The West Indian captain averages 58.0 against Australia at a strike rate of 82. Even if Australia somehow manage to topple the West Indies’ top order cheaply, Holder can lead a later order resurgence. And if the batsmen fire as expected? Then Holder is just the man to deliver the killer blow. Holder is also just as lethal a bowler as he is batsman, coming to Australia straight from a series against Sri Lanka where he averaged 22.3 with the ball. An all-round threat.
Kemar Roach
The last time Roach was in Australia, he bowled at around 150km/h and forced Ricky Ponting to retire hurt with a blow to the elbow in Perth. A genuine West Indian speedster who strikes with a wicket every 53.5 balls, better than Curtly Ambrose or Courtney Walsh.
Jerome Taylor
The 31-year-old Jamaican fast bowler is at the peak of his powers. After a Test career that has seen him averaging 33.0 with the ball at a strike rate of 58.4, the seven Tests he’s played in the 2015 calendar year so far has seen him average a world-class 23.3 at a strike rate of just 44.2. An in-form bowler ready to pounce.
Devendra Bishoo
Until the series against Australia back in June, leg-spinner Bishoo was most famous for being the man who’d just barely pushed bowling legend Ian Bishop one notch down the alphabetical list of West Indian players. Then he unleashed his ball of the century against Brad Haddin, 22 years to the day after Shane Warne’s against Mike Gatting, and everything changed. Expect Bishoo to have a Warnesque bowling career from now on, starting this very series.
Jomel Warrican | Shannon Gabriel
Jomel Warrican debuted in the most recent Test for the West Indies, taking 4-67 in the first innings and 6-129 for the match. If he’s selected for the first Test in Hobart against the Australians and can maintain that form, he’ll obviously be a handful. On the other hand, if Shannon Gabriel takes his spot, then that just means Gabriel is expected to be even more of a handful. Perhaps even two handfuls. Either way, this spells trouble for the Australian batting.
In summary, this seems to be too tough a team for the Australians to possibly combat. You can’t argue with facts.
Oh, sure, you might say, the Cricket Australia XI easily beat the West Indians in a tour game. But that’s a CAXI game. We know from experience that virtually anything can happen when those mad geniuses get together. And, besides, not a single member of that victorious CAXI team will play the first Test for Australia.
You might also point out that Australia beat essentially the same players back in June. But that was a very different Australian team, containing Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin and Mitches Johnson and Starc, none of whom will be on hand to lend their valuable experience against this inevitable West Indian onslaught.
Enjoy your last days holding the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy, Australia. It’s been a fun couple of decades.