The recent Test form of West Indies has been weak. In the last 5 Test matches they have won only 1 match and lost the remaining 4 matches. Against Australia their batting order collapsed repeatedly. In the second Test only Brandon King and Roston Chase showed some fight but the other batsmen could not score any runs. In bowling Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph showed good power but they did not get support. It was good to make 253 in the first innings but in the second innings they were all out for just 143. In the last few matches also their top order seems to be falling quickly, and they have to depend more on the lower order. If the team has to improve then it will have to bring consistency in batting.
Australia’s form has been quite amazing in Test cricket. In the last 5 matches, they have won 4 and lost just 1 match. They recently won the series 2-0 against West Indies, winning the second Test by 133 runs. Steven Smith played a solid knock of 71 runs, Carey and Webster also scored important runs in the first innings. In bowling, Lyon, Starc and Hazlewood are consistently taking wickets. In the first Test also, Travis Head and Carey scored half-centuries. There was a slight slip in just one match, but overall both the batting and bowling departments are doing a good job. The team looks confident and in every match some new player is giving a performance.
The pitch of Sabina Park is going to be a little slow. The match will be played with a pink ball, so the new ball will swing initially and the pacers will get early help. Bowlers like Mitchell Starc who has 74 wickets with the pink ball can prove to be quite dangerous for the West Indies.
Batsmen will have to play carefully initially as the ball will both seam and swing. But if they survive the new ball then it will not be difficult to settle on the pitch and score runs. As the match progresses, the pitch will get slower and slower and batting can get even tougher.
Due to it being a day-night match, the final session will be the trickiest as the ball moves more under lights. Spinners will not get much help but if the pacers keep their line-length right, the entire match will be theirs.
West Indies and Australia have played 121 matches in Test cricket so far. Out of these, Australia has won 62 matches while West Indies has won only 33 times. 25 matches were drawn and 1 match was also tied. The recent encounter of both teams took place in the 2nd Test in Grenada where Australia won by 133 runs. Steven Smith played an important knock and Lyon took 6 wickets in the match.
West Indies’ Roston Chase showed some resistance but his batting failed in both the innings. Shamar and Alzarri Joseph showed fight in bowling, but overall the team could not stand against Australia. This Head-to-Head clearly shows that Australia has always maintained the upper hand against the West Indies.
Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Brandon King, Shai Hope(w), Roston Chase(c), Justin Greaves, Anderson Phillip, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales
Injury Updates: None
Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Cameron Green, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
Injury Updates: None
Keeper: Alex Carey, Shai Hope
Batters: Travis Head, Steven Smith
All-rounders: Beau Webster, Roston Chase
Bowlers: Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Shamar Joseph, Alzrari Joseph
Beau Webster
Shamar Joseph
Travis Head
Pat Cummins
Keeper: Shai Hope
Batters: Steven Smith
All-rounders: Beau Webster, Roston Chase
Bowlers: Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales, Alzarri Joseph, Nathan Lyon
Roston Chase
Josh Hazlewood
Nathan Lyon
Steven Smith
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