King relies on youth to challenge Australia

A youthful West Indies side has been given the unenviable task of matching Australia in the three-Test series that starts at the Gabba on November 3. Bennett King, the former Queensland coach who now guides the visitors, will return to his old home ground hoping to threaten the team mentored by John Buchanan, his predecessor at the Bulls.

"I think it's more experience we're probably lacking," King told AAP. "Eleven of the players are 25 and under. There's only two that are over 30 and they're our most experienced players."

King, who believed Australia's win over the World XI proved they had rebounded from the Ashes loss, said he was pleased with his side's progress since taking over the role late in 2004. "The players to a man, they're really dedicated and they work hard," he said.

Brian Lara is due to arrive in Brisbane on Friday and King was not worried about his lack of runs during the Super Series. "Hopefully he's saving them all up for us against Australia," he told AFP. "I think he's copped some pretty harsh criticism in the press and people forget what he's done - he's one innings away from being the class player again that we all know that he is." The tour begins with a four-day match against Queensland starting on October 27.