Will Australia whitewash Windies?

West Indies have shown signs lately that they are at least on the way back up, but their improvement is sure to be tested to the limit by the all-conquering Australians, who are expected not only to win the three-Test series, which starts on Thursday, but to win all three Tests and complete a whitewash.

Home advantage is a massive thing in Test cricket but when Australia are in town it tends to mean little, such is there amazing run of success, which has seen them win 20 of their past 23 Tests. Away from home, they have won their past five, including a 3-0 whitewash of South Africa.

In the past, West Indies, even in their darkest times, have tended to save their best for the visit of Australia. After a narrow win in 1995, they managed a 2-2 draw in 1999 and although they won 3-1 last time round, in 2003, West Indies will have fond memories of their last match when they chased down a world record 418 for victory in Antigua.

That, though, was five years ago and Brian Lara is no longer on the scene. West Indies are in transition, now led by Ramnaresh Sarwan. In their captain, they have a world-class batsman, and in Shivnarine Chanderpaul, they have a wealth of experience, while their bowlers should not be underestimated.

This is still an Australia side in slight transition. Post Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, their bowling attack does not have quite the same menace, despite the efforts of Brett Lee.

Michael Clarke misses the first Test, so the batting is not quite as strong as it might be, but Australia are still huge favourites, at just 1/6 to win the series, with West Indies 11/1 and the draw an 11/2 chance.

Stuart MacGill is back and will be dangerous, though, and Australia deserve their favouritism. Bet365 make a 3-0 win for Australia just 2/1. A 2-0 triumph for the tourists is the favourite, at 15/8, while a 1-0 win is 13/2. A 2-1 win is 11/2.

If you think West Indies, who are far more dangerous at home than away these days, can win the series - England were the last side to inflict a series loss on the Aussies, in 2005 - then you can get 28/1 that it ends 2-1, a price of 33/1 hat it finishes 1-0, 66/1 that it's 2-0 and a massive 150/1 that it is a whitewash for the home side.

Bet365 make it just 7/1 that it ends as a 1-1 draw, however, which is fairly short, while it's 40/1 that it is a stalemate at 0-0.

Usual suspects to the fore
No surprise to see messrs Ponting and Hayden at the top of the betting to be top Australia runscorer in the series as the two men have dominated things for the tourists in recent times.

However, with Hayden doubtful for the first Test with an ankle problem, the 5/2 is probably a better price on Ponting than it is for the opener, who even if he does play in Kingston, could be hampered by the problem.

Michael Hussey is just 3/1 to come out on top, while opener Phil Jaques is 9/2 and Simon Katich, who replaces Michael Clarke in the first Test, is 5/1. Katich is an excellent player, but Clarke will surely come back in when he is ready, so the price is pretty short.

Andrew Symonds and Brad Hodge are both 8/1, while Clarke himself is 14/1, and though it's asking a lot for him to top the standings after just two Tests, he may not be completely out of it.

Chanderpaul is favourite in the West Indies betting at 7/4, while captain Sarwan is 2/1 and to be perfectly honest, it should be between these two. Chanderpaul has a wealth of experience and has the temperament to succeed, while the classy Sarwan's only real problem could be how he handles having the captaincy.

Behind them, there's a big gap in the betting to Devon Smith, while West Indies' lack of batting depth is shown by the fact that Dwayne Bravo is just 6/1. Bravo is a fine player but should really be batting at six or seven. The absence of the injured Chris Gayle and the suspended Marlon Samuels will surely hurt them.

Brett Lee tops the betting to be top Australia wicket-taker and quite rightly so, given that he has been bowling superbly for about two years now. However, at just 6/4 he is pretty short. Instead, MacGill could be the man - he averages five wickets per Test and took 18 wickets in the series in West Indies back in 2003.

The ultra-consistent Stuart Clark is also dangerous at 10/3, while Mitchell Johnson is 4/1.

For West Indies, the very talented Jerome Taylor is 13/8 favourite, while Fidel Edwards is 11/4. Daren Powell is 10/3 and Dwayne Bravo 7/2.

Australia are far better than West Indies at the moment and will surely win the series but it may not be quite as one-sided as you might think. While draws are always tricky propositions when Australia play, such is the pace that they score their runs at, West Indies could sneak a Test and a 2-1 win for Australia, at 15/8, seems a possibility.