World T20 champions, West Indies fresh off their victory over South Africa, come up against
Steve Smith captain
the ODI champions, Australia in what is expected to be a fiery day/night encounter today at Providence.
The hosts, already stunning the Proteas, will set their sights on the star-studded Aussies, who have a lot of players returning from injury.
West Indian batting will have to deal with steamy, Mitchel Starc after recently recovering from an ankle injury barring him from playing with Indian Premier league finalists, the Royal Challengers Bangalore. The Australian captain is also fresh off a wrist injury while all-rounders Glen Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh are ready following a side strain.
Smith in a press conference on Saturday, highlighted the importance of a balanced side, of which his team has and the preparations heading into game day.
“Warner, Finch, Khawaja, Smith, Maxwell, Marsh, Wade, Starc, Zampa, Hazelwood, Boland, Lyon, depending on the conditions and when we have another look in the morning we will see the final 11” the captain noted. “We think this is the best 12 for this particular game against this particular opposition… we got a good mix of guys who can penetrate the wicket quite hard and hit good areas, obviously a couple of spinners as well and guys who can bowl cutters and things like that which will work well on that wicket so I think we got the balance right for this first game.”
The Australian top batsman pointed out “Narine is a quality bowler but it’s about our batsman having a plan against him and I think guys have seen him quite a bit and knows what he brings to the table”
He isn’t expecting the game to be a high scoring encounter but about being smart and put away the bad balls and rotating the strike to take control of the game.
Starc on his first tour after half a year, indicated that this series can be one where guys can cement their place in the team and preform against a quality side.
The match is historic one as well for Australia as it is the side’s first match at Providence having played previously at Bourda in the country’s capital. Additionally, there will be renewed rivalry within the contest between the rivalry between West Indies’ top scorer against South Africa, Kieron Pollard and Australian left arm speedster Mitchell Starc.
In addition to Smith’s prediction, West Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons will be looking to Sunil Narine to continue his good run, having snared career best figures of 6-27 in his encounter with the Proteas. Narine will be supported by Sulleman Benn on a slow turner which makes batsmen work hard for their runs. The forecast remains the same with some showers expected in the morning with better conditions in the afternoon. However, there will still be lots of humidity with low wind speeds.
The Caribbean side is not expected to change their team from the opening match against South Africa as their batmen will be looking to get good starts especially the openers, Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher while stroke makers Darren Bravo, Dinesh Ramdin and Marlon Samuels can steer the middle for an explosive finish by power hitters, Pollard, Holder and Braithwaite.
West Indies squad reads: Jason Holder (captain), Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Carlos Brathwaite, Sunil Narine, Jerome Taylor, Sulieman Benn, Ashley Nurse, Shannon Gabriel and Jonathan Carter
Australia squad reads: Steven Smith (captain), David Warner, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, James Faulkner, Scott Boland, George Bailey, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Travis Head and John Hastings.
It was reported that tickets for this encounter are sold out. The action begins at 13:00 Hrs.
