A young West Indian outfit wiill take to the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday 17 January looking to get their first Test win on Australian soil for some 27 years.
The West Indies will be playing their first Test match since July 2023, when they faced India in a two-match home series, which they lost 1-0.
Interestingly, the West Indies were also the last visiting team to play a Test match at the Adelaide Oval in December 2022. The West Indies have played 15 Tests at the Adelaide Oval, all against Australia, winning five of those. The West Indies last won in Adelaide in 1993 when they snatched a famous 1-run win.
To Win Match
Australia 1/10 | Draw 9/1 | West Indies 16/1
Australia have made the curious call to install Steve Smith as their new opener rather than call up a specialist replacement for retired David Warner.
Usman Khawaja will now pair with Smith as the opening pair as the former skipper is promoted from first drop.
The move allows Australia to slot pace bowling allrounder Cameron Green in at No 4, which admittedly does wonders for Australia’s team balance on home soil.
Matthew Renshaw remains in the squad but looks likely to be the man carrying drinks for this Test.
The West Indies have picked seven uncapped players to their 15-man squad, a significant turnaround from the side that travelled to Australia last time out.
The Windies’ inexperienced middle order of Kirk McKeznie, Alick Athanaze, and Kavem Hodge are all players to watch. Still, they will need to have a whole lot of grit to enjoy an excellent tour to Australia.
Grit isn’t something that skipper Kraigg Brathwaite lacks, and he stands out as the most likely tourist to make serious runs.
Form-quick Alzarri Joseph will lead the attack alongside experienced swing bowler Kemar Roach, who could be a handful in Adelaide.
Verdict: Australia 1/10
Despite their tinkering, Australia should win comfortably against what will be a new-look Windies outfit.
