Australia vs West Indies Phillip in for Warrican as Australia bat first in Grenada
West Indies have left out their frontline spinner as they search for a way to level the series
Australia opt to bat against West Indies
Australia’s top order will again get the chance to front up first to West Indies’ attack after Pat Cummins won the toss in Grenada and opted to bat. It is Australia’s first Test at the venue and the first at the ground since 2022.
West Indies brought in seamer Anderson Phillip for the left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, who is also the vice-captain, meaning they have four frontline quicks alongside the all-rounder Justin Greaves, which leaves the spin in the hands of captain Roston Chase.
Kraigg Brathwaite becomes the 10th West Indian to reach 100 Tests and the third Barbadian.
As they generally do, Australia confirmed their XI the day before the game, with Steven Smith’s return in place of Josh Inglis the one change. Smith is still wearing a splint on the finger he dislocated in the World Test Championship final but has no problems batting, although he’s unlikely to be in the slips.
Smith’s return adds vital experience to the middle order at a time when Australia’s top order continues to struggle. This is an important test for Sam Konstas and Cameron Green, with the former looking to establish his career and the latter yet to find his rhythm after returning from a back injury.
There are landmarks looming within Australia’s attack. Mitchell Starc needs nine wickets to reach 400 in Tests, and Nathan Lyon is eight away from becoming the country’s second-highest wicket-taker behind Shane Warne
West Indies 1 Kraigg Brathwaite, 2 John Campbell, 3 Keacy Carty, 4 Brandon King, 5 Roston Chase (capt), 6 Shai Hope (wk), 7 Justin Greaves, 8 Alzarri Joseph, 9 Shamar Joseph, 10 Jayden Seales, 11 Anderson Phillip
Australia 1 Sam Konstas, 2 Usman Khawaja, 3 Cameron Green, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Beau Webster, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh Hazlewood
This news is taken from espncricinfo.com