Australia are beginning their new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle on a soil they haven’t played a Test game on since 2015. With a top-order that is so unlike what has been their regular since 2018. And at a venue that has not hosted any longest format game in the last three years. There is uncertainty for them, no matter how you look at this series.

Uncertainty, it is, for West Indies, too. In fact, they decided to go one better than Australia by handing the captaincy duties to Roston Chase, who has not played in whites since 2023. In addition, they decided to bench all but three of their players from the last Test they played.

The last time both sides played a Test game, West Indies orchestrated a historic win at the Gabba, which, like their recent loss against South Africa in the WTC Final, would still be fresh in Australia’s memory. Regardless, they would want these easy pickings on offer to start their cycle on the right foot.

Team Overview:

Australia will be without Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith in their starting XI. Labuschagne has been axed from the side following his prolonged lean patch, while Smith sustained a compound dislocation on his right little finger. Sam Konstas, who was only nine when Australia last played a Test in the Caribbean, will come in as an opener alongside Usman Khawaja. Cameron Green, who batted at the No. 3 spot in the WTC Final, will take the first drop once again, with Josh Inglis set to replace Smith at two down. Inglis, who will be playing his third Test, has never batted at No. 4 in international cricket, and only once in First-class cricket.

With the Barbados conditions very unpredictable, Australia will go in with their usual three-headed pace attack featuring Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and a spinner, Nathan Lyon.

Barring Kraigg Brathwaite, Justin Greaves, and Jomel Warrican, West Indies do not have any players from the side that last played a Test game. John Campbell, who hasn’t played any international game since 2022, will open with Brathwaite. Similarly, Shai Hope, who has only kept wickets twice in his entire Test career, is back to take the position behind the stumps. This will also be his first red-ball game since 2021. Brandon King will be handed his debut cap to bat at the all-important No. 4 position. In the bowling attack, West Indies will go with an SLA, both Josephs, and their highest wicket-taker from the last WTC cycle, Jayden Seales.

Head-to-Head Matches:

Australia and West Indies have played 120 matches against each other, with Australia (61) winning nearly twice as many as West Indies (33). 25 of the remaining games ended in a draw, and curiously, one in a tie.

Weather and Pitch Report:

No one knows how the Barbados pitch will behave. The surface has patches of grass, but their brownish tinge is a giveaway of the fact that they will not last longer than a few sessions. Both sides have at least three specialist pacers in their lineups, which signals that there might be plenty on offer for them. Historically, the venue has ventured more towards being bowling-friendly as the game progressed, so batting first would be a wise choice.