First Test – Australia vs. West Indies Tips and Previews, 30th November
Australia vs. West Indies
November 30th
After an indifferent couple of months with the white ball, Australia is back doing what it does best, hosting Test Match cricket.
Form lines are hard to read into with more than four months since the Australians played the traditional form of the game, which is probably just as well, considering their last match was a thrashing at the hands of Sri Lanka.
It is primarily a familiar squad, with Marcus Harris back in the mix after an exile. A solid start to the domestic season has seen Harris back in contention, but he is still no certainty to take his place.
Mitchell Starc had doubts about him after an up-and-down few months, but the recent one-day series win over England showed that he can still roll out his best when needed.
Travis Head could loom as Australia’s most dangerous option with the bat, coming off some recent success in the One Day International Series. Head is now an experienced fixture in the Test team, and the opportunity to set the tone for the series in front of the Perth crowd would be mouth-watering for him.
Look also for Steve Smith to have an influence with the bat after some wavering red-ball form in recent times. A chance to take on a vulnerable West Indies team on Australian soil could be his opportunity to fill his boots, assuming he can overcome some recent injury concerns.
The Windies have not had much Test match success on Australian shores (or anywhere else, for that matter) recently, but they do come to this one with a mix of youth and experience.
All eyes will be on Tagenarine Chanderpaul, son of West Indies great Shivnarine. A debut on Australian soil is as tough as initiation as it gets but would bring some spark to his team that has an impressive record in Tests this year, recording home test series wins over England and Bangladesh.
Kraigg Brathwaite has a big ask ahead of him as captain of the team but has proven he can handle himself against some of the more prominent test-playing nations.
He will draw on the experience of veterans Kemar Roach and Jason Holder, while the dashing Jermaine Blackwood will play a key role in taking on the Australian pace attack.
