Firing hosts take on top-ranked Australia

Sunday, June 5, 2016
Start time: 1300 local (1700 GMT)

There are three teams in this triangular series after all. Hosts West Indies made a statement, showing they are not just there to make up the numbers, with a victory over South Africa in their opener. Now they have to take on the bigger boys.

Australia saunter into this series as the top-ranked ODI side laden with superstars, many of whom are returning from injury. Mitchell Starc headlines the list, having recovered from an ankle injury that kept him out of the game for six months. Captain Steven Smith (wrist), Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh (both side strain), all pulled out of the IPL with niggles but traveled to the Caribbean for this event.

Australia could have opted to leave some of them out, as South Africa have done with Dale Steyn and West Indies with Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy, but Australians don't do things in half measures. Even though this series may not be top priority for a team that has a busy few months, they're taking it seriously and remain the favourites to walk away winners.

For West Indies, who already have points on the board, sustaining momentum will be their aim. They had not played ODI cricket since November 2015 before their win over South Africa and are still finding their rhythm in the format. At Providence, that rhythm needs to be slow and calculating, something West Indies are not always known for, but which they will need to keep doing.

West Indies WLLLL (last five completed games most recent first)
Australia LWLLW

While West Indies' spinners impressed in their opening match, their seamers Carlos Brathwaite, Jerome Taylor and Jason Holder put in strong supporting roles to keep South Africa quiet. Their modus operandi was pace off the ball, cutters and cross-seam deliveries in the middle and latter parts of the innings but they will want to start better to keep Australia's aggressive top order in check.

All eyes will be on Starc, who could become the fastest man to 100 wickets. He needs ten more scalps in, at most, six matches to ensure he gets to the landmark before Saqlain Mushtaq, who achieved it in 53 games. But before he thinks about that, Starc will be anxious to show he is fully fit and game-ready. He has not played cricket since the inaugural day-night Test in November 2015 and will use this series to ease his way back in.

After their win over South Africa, West Indies are unlikely to make any changes for the second match, in the same conditions.

West Indies: 1 Johnson Charles, 2 Andre Fletcher, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 7 Jason Holder (capt), 8 Carlos Brathwaite, 9 Sunil Narine, 10 Jerome Taylor, 11 Sulieman Benn

Starc's expected comeback is the main talking point in Australia's team selection but there are also a few other names to look out for. Like South Africa and West Indies, Australia are likely to field two specialist spinners with Adam Zampa joining Nathan Lyon in the XI. Smith said Australia would wait for a pitch inspection before the game before deciding whether to field two spinners or three pacers, with Scott Boland likely to be picked in case of the latter.

Australia: 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Steven Smith (capt), 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Adam Zampa, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Nathan Lyon

On the evidence of the first match, the Providence pitch does not allow for free-flowing stokeplay. It is a slow surface which supports spin and batsmen have to work hard for their runs. As has been the case throughout the week, rain is expected in the morning, with the weather drying out later on.

"I like the way the guys held the nerve. They were very composed. On this pitch, you need to spend a little time batting. We made it a little difficult for ourselves. In the next game we need to tighten up, focus on the strike rotation and then we will be much better off."
West Indies captainJason H older wants to see some improvement with the bat

"I think for this wicket we've got a good mix; guys who can penetrate the wicket quite hard and hit good areas, a couple of spinners and guys who can bowl a lot of cutters, which are going to work well on that wicket. So I think we've got the balance right for the first game."
Australia captain Steven Smith on the composition of his side