Will Aussie pace attack be an advantage for Windies?
Trent Bridge, Nottingham will witness a gush of confidence when Australia would face the buoyant West Indies on Thursday (June 6). Both the teams have been performing at their best thrashing their opponents, only to go closer to the World Cup.
Aaron Finch-led Aussies had a convincing seven-wicket win over Afghanistan by restricting them to 207 and chasing it with utmost ease. West Indies, however, demolished the Pakistani batting line-up and bowled them out at 105 in their opening match. Oshane Thomas had finished with 4-27, while captain Jason Holder and Andre Russell shared five wickets between them before Windies clinched a seven-wicket win over Pakistan.
Australia head coach Justin Langer has called the West Indies’ “Calypso cricket”, admitting they were his heroes when he was growing up. He said that it will take a lot to prepare his team to win against the big hitters.
The two teams, who have won seven out of the 11 World Cups so far between them, meet at Trent Bridge on Thursday (June 6) after both cruised to comfortable opening victories.
With West Indies featuring some of the biggest hitters in the world; Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Carlos Brathwaite in their top order, the Aussie pacers need to quickly adapt to control their bowling and restrict the destructors.
Langer has already said that Australia would need to adjust their mindset to take on the West Indies quicks and other fast bowlers at the tournament in England and Wales. He also said that, in all likelihood, the Aussies will play with the same XI that played against Afghanistan.
Squads
Australia: Aaron Finch (captain), Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa
West Indies: Jason Holder (captain), Andre Russell, Ashley Nurse, Carlos Brathwaite, Chris Gayle, Darren Bravo, Evin Lewis, Fabian Allen, Kemar Roach, Nicholas Pooran (wicketkeeper), Oshane Thomas, Shai Hope, Shannon Gabriel, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer
