Squads –
WI –
Kieron Pollard (c), Nicholas Pooran (vc), Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Fidel Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Kevin Sinclair, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr
AUS –
Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Wes Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Dan Christian, Josh Hazelwood, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa. Travelling reserves: Nathan Ellis, Tanveer Sangha.
Team News –
WI –
– The Windies team recently lost a 5 match series 2-3 against South Africa.
– Windies have a lot of firepower with the likes of Lewis, Simmons, Gayle, Pollard , Russel but many of them were unable to play in pressure situations throughout the series.
– Fabian Allen looks fit after not playing the 5th t20 against SA due to a arm injury. He can play today.
– Team will likely stick with the same opening pair of Lewis and Simmons as both were pretty good throughout the series against South Africa.
– Chris Gayle will bat at 1 down. Gayle haven’t fired in entire series against South Africa but his experience will keep him in the team.
– Shimron Hetmyer and Nicolas Pooran both will bat in middle. Hetmyer wasn’t looking in good touch in the final t20 where he scored 33 in expense of 31 balls while same was with Pooran throughout the series with just 72 runs in 5 games.
– Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell will be the Allrounders for West Indies. Pollard can promote himself and Russell any day up the order.
– Fabian Allen/Kevin Sinclair will contribute through spin bowling. Gayle also rolled his arm in the last t20 against South Africa.
– DJ Bravo, Obed McCoy, Andre Russell and Fidel Edwards will lead the pace attack of team.
AUS –
– Australia will be without their top guns Warner, Maxwell, Cummins and Smith on this tour as they have opted out due to bubble fatigue.
– Team will likely go with 4 specialist bowlers and 3-4 Allrounders as hinted by the coach Langer himself.
– Aaron Finch and Matthew Wade will open the innings. Both are very aggressive batsman. Wade is very good when opens and is very strong on his leg side.
– Mitchell Marsh will bat at 1 down. Marsh will play an important role both with bat and bowl. He is a aggressive hitter and plays pace really good.
– Ashton Turner/Ben McDermott amd Josh Philippe will bat in middle. Phillipe is growing really good with experience and also scored a 50 in practice game recently.
– Turner can play an important role with his off spin as Windies team has 4 lefties in their top 5 and Australia lacks a proper off spinner.
– Dan Christian and Moises Henriques will contribute through both bat and bowl. Christian has made his return into the international side after some terrific form in the BBL and other franchise Cricket throughout the world.
– Adam Zampa, Ashton Agar and Ashton Turner will be important with their spin bowling.
– Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood, Mitchell Marsh, Dan Christian and Moises Henriques all with contribute through their pace bowling.
Probable XI –
WI –
Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran(w), Kieron Pollard(c), Andre Russell, DJ Bravo, Fabian Allen/Kevin Sinclair, Obed McCoy, Fidel Edwards
AUS –
Aaron Finch (c), Matthew Wade (wk), Mitch Marsh, Josh Philippe, Ben McDermott/Aston Turner, Moises Henriques, Dan Christian, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazelwood
Pitch Report –
Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, St Lucia
Good Wicket for pacers, scoring can be a bit difficult in middle with thw Wicket slowing down.
Australia has excellent record winning all 4 T20 games played at the Daren Sammy Stadium.
Average Score : 149
Team Blueprint –
WK –
M Wade( Open, LHB + wk, 2814 t20 runs, 99 runs in 5 games against NZ last Series)
Nicolas Pooran ( 2/3 down, LHB + wk, very poor form, Just 72 runs in 5 games last series, can ignore as wade can be a good option)
Andre Fletcher( Open, RHB, very aggressive Batsman, hit or miss, 65 runs in 2 games last series, experienced guy with 4900+ t20 runs, can take if opens )
Alex Carey ( Open/Middle order, excellent striker of the ball, very good domestic record, 425 runs in BBL 2020 with a 100)
BAT –
Chris Gayle( 1 down, LHB, no intro needed, can also contribute with ball , took a Wicket in last t20 game, however poor form with bat)
Aaron Finch ( Open, RHB, among top 5 all time t20i scorers, 197 runs in 5 games against NZ last series)
Kieron Pollard( Middle order, RHB + medium pacer, always a reliable pick to have )
Evin Lewis( Open, LHB, very aggressive hitter, SR of 160 with 168 runs last seties , Must have)
Lendl Simmons( Open, RHB, very experienced, 72 runs in 3 games last series, SR was poor just 116 last series)
M Henriques ( Middle order, RHB + Right Arm medium pacer, experienced, 4007 runs + 112 Wickets in t20 cricket, can bowl 2-3 overs )
J Philippe( 2-3 down, RHB, very talented Cricketer with 500+ runs from last 3 bbl seasons, 50 in practice game)
Shimron Hetmyer ( 2 down, LHB, carrer t20 strike rate of 131, was in good form this ipl with 2 50+ scores, 33(31b) last t20 against SA )
Aston Turner ( 2-3 down, RHB + off spin, very important and differential pick this game due to his bowling)
ALL –
Andre Russell( Middle order, RHB + Medium fast, one of the best Allrounders around, 4 Wickets + 62 runs last series )
Jason Holder( Right Arm medium fast + RHB, can strike the ball big, 2 Wickets last series in 3 games)
M Marsh( 1 down, RHB + medium fast, can strike the ball really big, 4 50+ scores this BBL, his bowling is still in doubt)
Ashton Agar ( Slow left arm, excellent bowler in the middle overs, 8 Wickets in 5 games last Series against NZ)
Dan Christian ( RHB + Medium pacer, known for his big hitting and slow cutters, can be very useful on slowish tracks)
Fabian Allen ( Lower middle order, Slow left arm + RHB, very attacking batsman, hit 7 sixes in 3 games last series + 2 Wickets)
BOWL –
M Starc( Left arm fast, on intro needed but going through a bad form, 3 Wickets in practise game, Must have)
Adam Zampa ( Leggie, in the top 10 rankings of t20, massive experience with 200 t20 Wickets, 4 Wickets in last series)
DJ Bravo( Right Arm medium, very experienced Cricketer with 500+ t20 Wickets, 10 Wickets in 5 games last series )
Obed McCoy( Left arm medium fast, was excellent with his variations last series picking 9 Wickets)
Josh Hazelwood ( Right Arm medium fast, known for his swing, stays very economical, 44 Wickets in t20s )
Fidel Edwards( Right Arm Fast, experienced Cricketer with 110 games, 2 Wickets in last t20 against SA )
Sheldon Cottrell( Left arm fast, experienced with 129 t20 Wickets, didn’t played a single game against SA last series )
Andrew Tye ( Right Arm Fast, was one of the best death bowlers 2 years ago, can’t say will get a game )
Mitchell Swepson( Leggie, has been consistently picking Wickets in the domestic circuit, 55 t20 Wickets)
Kevin Sinclair ( Off spin, bowls mostly in powerplay overs, 9 Wickets in 10 t20 innings)
C/VC Options –
WI –
Evin Lewis
Andre Russell
Chris Gayle
AUS –
Aaron Finch
Mitchell Marsh
Matthew Wade