1st Test Australia v West Indies - Perth Nov 30th

[bornadog]

Australia Test squad:

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.

[FrediKanoute]

No real surprises there. QUestion is does Boland play?

[lemmon]

No real surprises there. QUestion is does Boland play?

I actually think I'd go with the 4 quicks + Green if the wicket is favourable. Lots of right-handers in this Windies top 7 and they're more comfortable playing spin than pace.

[Axe Man]

Australia XI for first Test: Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitch Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon

[GVGjr]

I'm looking forward to this test but apparently ticket sales have been exceptionally poor so far.

Most of the speculation is that the team winning the toss will bowl first.

[lemmon]

Might be an interesting first few days if the pitch has some spice in it.

This is an average Windies side, but their pace bowling is dangerous. Kemar Roach is really canny and has had an incredibly underrated Test career (252 wickets at 27), Joseph bowls heat and Jason Holder will find any movement on offer. Our batters shouldn't underrate this attack or we could be four down quite quickly.

[bornadog]

Might be an interesting first few days if the pitch has some spice in it.

This is an average Windies side, but their pace bowling is dangerous. Kemar Roach is really canny and has had an incredibly underrated Test career (252 wickets at 27), Joseph bowls heat and Jason Holder will find any movement on offer. Our batters shouldn't underrate this attack or we could be four down quite quickly.

Is picking Lyon an error?

[GVGjr]

Is picking Lyon an error?

We have 3 quicks that are in form and an allrounder who bowls quick as well. I think Lyon is needed to give us some balance.
Boland is tempting.

[Axe Man]

We have 3 quicks that are in form and an allrounder who bowls quick as well. I think Lyon is needed to give us some balance.
Boland is tempting.

I can't really see a need to play 5 fast bowlers, 4 with Lyon should be plenty against an average batting lineup. Have to watch the over rates too.

[Sedat]

West Indies with ther brittle batting line-up are playing tests in Perth, which is always pace friendly, and Adelaide (D/N) which is a bowler's dream under lights with the pink ball. Would not want to be holding tickets for day 3 (or 4 or 5) for either test.

As a cricket obsessive who grew up absolutely idolising the mightly West Indian teams of the late 70's to mid 90's, when they went a remarkable 15 years without losing a test series anywhere in the world (a record that will never be broken by any team in any sport), witnessing their demise into utter irrelevence is one of the saddest things I've seen in sport.

[bornadog]

Australia to bat first

[lemmon]

Looks a good wicket, think it's a bat first pitch but will be assistance in it for the bowlers early. I think Braithwaite wouldn't be unhappy losing that toss - takes some pressure off his batters and gets use of the grass.

[GVGjr]

Looks a good wicket, think it's a bat first pitch but will be assistance in it for the bowlers early. I think Braithwaite wouldn't be unhappy losing that toss - takes some pressure off his batters and gets use of the grass.

Our top 4 will either make us or break us.

[bornadog]

Warner out for 6

[lemmon]

First time I've had a look at Seales, he's had a great start to his career and looks to be a very good prospect. A few green shoots for the Windies.