KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, CMC – West Indies open their five-match One-Day International series against Australia here today, hoping to break a worrying trend of losses against the powerful tourists.
Yesterday, the side put the finishing touches on their preparations for the 9:30 am (Eastern Caribbean time) encounter at the Arnos Vale Stadium, confident they can draw first blood in the series.
However, the Windies will have history against them as they have failed to get the better of Australia in their last 10 ODIs dating back four years.
Two years ago Down Under, they lost their five-match series 4-0 and back in 2008 in the Caribbean, they were swept 5-0.
Despite the enormity of the task ahead of West Indies, Captain Darren Sammy said the confidence in the side would play a crucial role.
“We have to believe we have it in us to win. We will look to hit the ground running and start the series on a winning note,” Sammy said.
“Arnos Vale has been a good venue for us. The last time we played here we won the matches and we enjoy the crowd support from the fans here and the atmosphere at this venue is always superb.”
He added: “We are playing against the Australians, and everyone knows they are a good team … a very competitive team. But we are focusing on us and what we have to do.
“We have a young team but we are a team hungry for success. There are several young players in the squad, who are new to the international stage.”
Experience could also be a key factor in the series as Sammy leads a relatively inexperienced group, with all-rounder and vice-captain Dwayne Bravo the most seasoned campaigner in the side with 117 matches.
He will be playing his first match in almost a year after being dropped from the team for loss of form.
While West Indies will look to his experience, they will also pull on the talent of elegant left-hander Darren Bravo, the resurgent Marlon Samuels and the big-hitting Kieron Pollard, to boost the batting.
In the bowling, meanwhile, West Indies will miss speedster Fidel Edwards and the ill Ravi Rampaul but will look to recalled pacer Tino Best, fellow Barbadian speedster Kemar Roach and himself, to provide seam options.
Mystery off-spinner Sunil Narine and leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo will provide support with their slow stuff.
Sammy said the young players in the squad could make a difference.
“Johnson Charles (batsman) is an exciting prospect for us and we also have Sunil Narine, who is a very good spinner, and also Andre Russell, the exciting all-rounder, who can do the job that is required,” Sammy pointed out.
“We have some players who are making a return to international cricket like Tino Best, who has been bowling very well, and Dwayne Bravo, who says he is very excited to be back in the maroon shirt.
“We are a team which will be very competitive against the Australians. We will look to play hard cricket and look for wins.”
Australia, meanwhile, have been hit by the loss of seamers Ben Hilfenhaus and James Pattinson who have both been ruled out of today’s game.
Hilfenhaus is down with a virus while Pattinson has not yet recovered from the injury he arrived with.
This means veteran campaigner Brett Lee and Clint McKay will lead the pace attack, with captain Shane Watson and Dan Christian chipping in.
Australia are mulling over playing both left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty and off-spinner Nathan Lyon in Friday’s opener, a move Watson said he was keen on.
“They’re a chance because they did a brilliant job in the last game in Adelaide especially,” Watson told reporters.
“For me as a captain it gives me plenty of options when you do have two spinners of that quality.
“In the end, it’s all about trying to balance that with exactly what we need here with the conditions but also with the West Indian team and how they’re going to play their cricket.”
SQUADS:
WEST INDIES – Darren Sammy (captain), Dwayne Bravo (vice captain), Carlton Baugh, Tino Best, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels.
AUSTRALIA – Michael Clarke (captain), Shane Watson (vice-captain), George Bailey, Dan Christian, Xavier Doherty, Peter Forrest, Brad Haddin, Ben Hilfenhaus, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Brett Lee, Nathan Lyon, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Matthew Wade, David Warner.
