The first men’s Test of the Australian summer has finally arrived with Pat Cummins confirming his XI for the first match against the West Indies on these shores in seven years.
Ashes hero Scott Boland has been left out of the playing eleven (scroll down) with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood joining Cummins in the three-man pace attack.
Meanwhile, the first Test pitch has been revealed 24 hours out from the first ball with a major shade of green on the Perth Stadium surface.
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The steward has left 12mm of grass on the pitch, with most covers closer to 8mm.
It is feared with temperatures in the 30s on Tuesday and the first day on Wednesday, the pitch may break up a lot, hence the extra turf cover.
Scott Boland and the Perth pitch. Source: FOX SPORTS
Kraigg Brathwaite’s side have everything to do to upset red-hot favorites Australia, who are coming off a convincing 4-0 Ashes series triumph over England last time they played on home soil.
Find out everything you need to know about the Test series starting on Wednesday in our definitive guide.
PREVIEW OF THE AUSTRALIA VS ANTILLES SERIES
The Aussies bring an identical line-up to the one that dominated England last summer with Usman Khawaja to accompany David Warner at the top of the order after initially being dropped at No.5.
Khawaja currently has 888 runs for the calendar year and can pass the 1000 mark in the first Test in Perth with his fifth century since being dropped for the Sydney Test, while he also had two scores of 90 against Pakistan.
Marnus Labuschagne is at No.3 with Steve Smith predicted to have a big summer at No.4 after adjusting his batting position to better counter the short-ball tactics that have seen his brilliant record come crashing down in recent seasons .
Travis Head will be looking to put a poor away record behind him and dominate on Australian soil as he has done in recent home series, while coming up with a century at the top of the order in one-day cricket.
Cameron Green completes the top six and will be looking for his first Test century after a couple of near misses last summer, while his seamers offer the bowling attack a point of difference and the luxury of some respite for the first-line rapids.
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Australian skipper Pat Cummins and his West Indies counterpart Kraigg Braithwaite with the Frank Worrell Trophy.Source: Getty Images
Alex Carey is another player looking for his maiden Test century and will provide batting insurance to the middle and lower order.
Skipper Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc will lead the pace attack, with three-Test sensation Scott Boland kept out despite his big summer in 2021-22 against England, where he took 18 wickets at 9.55 in three games.
Boland is the only change Australia have made since their last Test in Australia last January.
Spinner Nathan Lyon will be looking to deliver 450 Test wickets this summer with just 12 to go (438) and is a lock after being the only spinner named in the squad.
Secondary batsman Marcus Harris was the only surprise addition to the squad, which was announced ahead of Matthew Renshaw’s two high scores for the Premier’s XI in a match where Harris failed in both innings.
For the West Indies, just four players from their last tour in 2015/16 return with captain Kraigg Brathwaite, Jason Holder, Kemar Roach and Jermaine Blackwood.
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Like Australia, the tourists did not reach the last 16 of the T20 World Cup, but a number of their players have had time to adapt to the conditions after arriving in October for the format tournament short
Coach Phil Simmons will step down after the Test series following his poor results in the T20 group stage.
So far the tourists have drawn their tour match against a combined NSW-ACT XI and had a strong match against the Premier’s XI in a day-night which was also drawn.
Their top order has been plagued by inconsistency, but centuries in Blackwood and Joshua De Silva against England and Kyle Myers against Bangladesh in two home wins are cause for optimism.
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Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 26, son of West Indies great Shivrnarine, will partner Braithwaite at the top of the order after his century against the Prime Minister’s XI in what will be his Test debut.
Their pace attack includes veterans in former skipper Holder and Kemar Roach, while Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales are exciting youngsters with good pace, while Roston Chase will be the spinner.
Australia will go in as favourites, but the West Indies have star power that makes them an unpredictable and exciting team heading into the first Test series of the summer.
SQUADS
Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner
Confirmed XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Anderson Phillip, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Devon Thomas
Probably XI: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Nkrumah Bonner, Jermaine Blackwood, Kyle Mayers, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales.
FOX CRICKET TALENT TIPS
Mike Hussey
Result: Australia 2-0
Most races: Usman Khawaja
Most wickets: Mitchell Starc
Player of the series: Mitchell Starc
Adam Gilchrist
result: Australia 2-0
Most races: Marnus Labuschagne
Most wickets: Josh Hazlewood
Player of the series: Josh Hazlewood
Mark Howard
result: Australia 2-0
Most races: Steve Smith
Most wickets: Pat Cummins
Player of the series: Steve Smith
Brian Lara
Result: Tie 1-1
Most West Indies Runs: Jermaine Blackwood
Most West Indies wickets: Jason Holder
More races from Australia: Cameron Green
Most wickets by Australia: Josh Hazlewood
Ian Smith
Result: Australia 2-0
Most Races: Steve Smith
Most wickets: Josh Hazlewood
Player of the Series: Josh Hazlewood
Mark Waugh
Result: Australia 2-0
Most Races: Steve Smith
Most wickets: Josh Hazlewood
Series Player: Steve Smith
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HOW TO LOOK
Australia’s Test series against West Indies will be broadcast on Foxtel and Kayo Sports. Kayo offers a free trial for new subscribers, sign up here.
Over-the-air fans will also be able to hear all the action via SEN, ABC and Triple M, with all audio streams available on the CA Live app.
PLACES
First Test: 30 November to 4 December at Perth Stadium, 1.20pm (AEDT)
Second Test: 8-12 December at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, 2.30pm (AEDT)
WEATHER FORECAST PERTH
Wednesday: 35, partly cloudy (0% chance)
Thursday, 25th, partly cloudy (10% chance)
Friday: 27, clouds (0% chance)
Saturday: 29, mostly sunny (5% chance)
Sunday: 30, mostly sunny (10% chance)
TICKETS
Buy tickets at cricket.com.au here.
LADBROKE ODDS
first test
Australia: $1.13
West Indies: $10.00
Raffle: $11.00
* From Tuesday 29 November