Aussies unlikely to be generous

Only the rain that washed out the third one-dayer knocked Australia off course from what seemed certain to be a 5-0 series whitewash over West Indies but their professionalism should mean that though the series is won, they will still be looking to win the final match, to be played in Melbourne on Friday.

The fact that Australia have rested only two players - Michael Hussey and Nathan Hauritz - should tell you all you need to know and Ponting will be determined not to allow any slip-ups on the part of his side.

A 4-0 win looks a lot better than 3-1 and they simply don't want to lose a match, so bet365's odds of 2/9 are not that surprising, with West Indies 10/3 to put their games together enough to actually win a match.

Ponting top-scored in the last match and would doubtless like to do so again in this match. Bet365 make him 3/1 favourite to come out on top for Australia, with Shane Watson 7/2, Michael Clarke 5/1 and Cameron White 11/2.

For West Indies, it's the usual story with captain Chris Gayle way out on his own in the betting, at 13/5, with Travis Dowlin 5/1, Kieron Pollard and Lendl Simmons both 11/2.

I just can't see either West Indies having the will or Australia easing up enough to result in anything other than a win for the home side.

Original preview
Australia seem to be playing cricket all the time at the moment and they are back in action again, starting on Sunday, in the first of five one-dayers against West Indies.

West Indies only left Australia a month ago after the Test series and it seems ridiculous that they have had to make the long trip back again within a few weeks, but then the international calendar makes little sense.

The Aussies go into the series on the back of a whitewash over Pakistan and in the circumstances it is not surprising that they are 1/8 favourites with bet365 to win the series. West Indies are 5/1 and though they are a better one-day side than they are a Test outfit, it is still a massie ask for them to win this.

Chris Gayle may believe West Indies can win and Australia are not as good as Pakistan made them look, that much is true. But I find it hard to see that they can be consistent enough to win three matches out of the five, while Australia's professionalism should see them through.

Their supremacy is shown in the correct score markets where bet365 make them just 2/1 to complete another clean sweep. A 4-1 victory for the home side is favourite at 11/8. Then it's 5-0 at 2/1 and 3-2 at 10/3. If you think West Indies can win it, then it's 13/2 that they win 3-2, 25/1 that they win it 4-1 and 100/1 to win it 5/1.

Shane Watson, who had a great series against Pakistan, is the favourite to be Australia's top runscorer in the series, at 11/4. The opener obviously has the best chance in terms of time at the wicket, and since he is in good form, he makes sense as favourite.

Captain Ricky Ponting is 3/1, Shaun Marsh - the other opener - is 7/2 and Michael Clarke 5/1. Beyond them you're getting too far down the order to have a realistic chance in a one-day series.

Gayle tops the betting in the West Indies markets, at 7/4. The left-hander and skipper is a fantastic batsman when he gets in the mood and he is a worthy favourite. Lendl Simmons, who is improving all the time, is next at 9/2, new boy Travis Dowlin is 5/1, Kieron Pollard 15/2 and Runako Morton 8/1.

I just find it hard to see West Indies really troubling the Aussies and if the home side are professional enough, this could be another whitewash. It's more likely that their guard will slip once, though, so even though it's favourite, a 4-1 win could be the best bet at 11/8.