Australia start firm favourites

A year ago Australia trounced everyone in the Caribbean on the way to their third successive World Cup, and it would not be a surprise if they do the same in the three-Test series against West Indies. Australia were challenged in the Tests at home by India in January, and lost in the finals of the CB Series, but they are clear favourites heading into this contest. But they need to the careful. West Indies made a spirited comeback after losing the first Test during Sri Lanka's recent visit and squared the series 1-1, before winning the ODI series 2-0.

In 102 Tests between the sides, Australia have won 48 and lost 32, with 11 victories coming in 12 Tests since the turn of the millennium, an indication of how woeful West Indies have been in recent years. However, there is one good sign for fans staying up in Australia to catch the action: the last 23 Tests between the two sides have produced a result. The head-to-head has been closer in the West Indies, with Australia holding a 15-14 edge in 42 Tests. Australia won the last series in the Caribbean 3-1 in 2003, the only loss being the world-record chase at St John's in Antigua, but were held to a 2-2 result in their visit in 1999, thanks to a home side inspired by Brian Lara. Unfortunately, there's no Lara around for this series, nor Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist.

In the current squad, Ricky Ponting has been the most successful batsman against West Indies, with 1372 runs at an average of 65.33. Ponting struggled in the series against India, but he will be looking forward to the Caribbean stint; in five Tests in the West Indies, he has 691 runs, averaging 98.71. Michael Hussey had announced his arrival in international cricket when West Indies toured Australia in 2005, while Matthew Hayden too has managed to plunder these bowlers. Hayden is out of the first Test, while Michael Clarke, who has managed just 24 runs in two games against West Indies, will join the squad in time for the second.

West Indies will be without their captain Chris Gayle for the first Test, but generally their batting has struggled to cope against the Australian bowlers. Only Dwayne Bravo averages more than 35 against them - he scored a hundred and a fifty in two Tests in 2005 - and the hosts would be hoping the likes of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and the in-form Ramnaresh Sarwan can improve during this series.

Bravo, who was flown in for the series straight from the Indian Premier League, has performed creditably with the ball as well against Australia. West Indies' current attack has limited experience against Australia, with their spearhead Jerome Taylor having not played a Test at all against them.

Stuart MacGill and Brett Lee are the only two bowlers in Australia's line-up to have faced West Indies before. MacGill will be the leading spinner, and he has had plenty of experience against West Indies, with 55 wickets from 14 games. Lee's 46 wickets have come at an impressive average of 22.71, and the hosts should be worried considering the form he was in during the Australian summer. Lee, who was buoyed by taking on the mantle of being Australia's lead bowler, picked up 40 wickets in six Tests against Sri Lanka and India.

The difference between the sides in contests since 2000 is reflected in the average runs per wicket; Australia manage 48.25 to West Indies' 25.47. The home top order will need to fire, especially if the opposition manage to plunder runs with the ease they have done in recent times.

The first Test will be played at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, where West Indies have won half of the 42 Tests, and lost eight. However, West Indies have lost three of the last four, with the victory coming against Bangladesh. Australia have an even record, with three wins and three losses in nine Tests.

Sabina Park hasn't favoured sides winning the toss or batting first. While teams winning the toss have won 14 and lost 15, the sides batting first have won 11 and lost 18. The pitch in Kingston has helped fast bowlers more than spinners, and it's unlikely that either team will play more than one specialist slow man.