Providence (Guyana) (AFP) – Australian captain Steve Smith won the toss and put the West Indies in to bat in the rain-delayed second match of the Tri-Nation One-Day International series at the Guyana National Stadium on Sunday.
West Indies have retained the same XI that defeated South Africa by four wickets in the opening match of the tournament on Friday.
On a pitch that is again expected to be low and slow, the hosts will be relying heavily on their slow-bowling options in the immediate aftermath of Sunil Narine’s career-best returns of six for 27 to set up the upset win over the Proteas.
Playing their first-ever senior international fixture at Providence, Australia have also followed the lead from the opening fixture in playing two specialist spinners with leggie Adam Zampa joining the experienced orthodox off-break bowler Nathan Lyon.
Much attention though will be focused in the bowling department on left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who is playing his first international match for seven months following another injury setback to his already impressive career.
He goes into the series needing 10 more wickets before the end of the competition to surpass Pakistan’s Saqlain Mushtaq as the fastest-ever to 100 wickets in One-Day International cricket.
Teams
West Indies: Jason Holder (capt), Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin (wicketkeeper), Carlos Brathwaite, Sulieman Benn, Sunil Narine, Jerome Taylor.
Australia: Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon.
Umpires: Richard Illingworth (ENG), Nigel Llong (ENG)
Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)
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