Image Credit- AP
Gaining an advantage over Australia in the T20I series
opener, West Indies captain Rovman Powell won the toss and chose to bowl on the
lush Bellerive Oval pitch.
Following their humiliating 86-run bowling debacle in
Canberra during the three-match ODI series, West Indies will have a formidable
lineup that includes, for the first time on a trip, Brandon King, Andre
Russell, and Nicholas Pooran.
With victories in their last two series against
England and India, the West Indies have a great record in this format.
Josh Inglis, an expert batsman, will start the batting
with David Warner since Matthew Wade will be taking the gloves for Australia.
Along with Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott, left-arm
quick Jason Behrendorff gets his opportunity after shining in a five-match T20I
series in India towards the close of last year. Marcus Stoinis and Glenn
Maxwell make their comebacks after missing the ODI series.
Although Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Travis Head,
Steven Smith, and other multi-format players have been rested, there will be
fierce competition for berths as the T20 World Cup approaches.
Despite testing positive for COVID-19, Captain
Mitchelll Marsh will play, but he must observe the distancing procedures. In
lieu of Marsh at the toss, Warner—playing in his 100th Twenty20
International—stated that Australia would have chosen to bowl first.
The three-match series effectively ramps up T20 World
Cup preparations for both teams with Australia having six matches in the next
three weeks, while West Indies will use this series to settle on a squad for a
World Cup played on home soil.
The teams last played T20Is against each other in
October 2022 with Australia winning 2-0 in Queensland.