A new-look Australian team will take on a disgruntled West Indies in the first T20I of the two-game series. Hobart will host the match, and it will be the first ever occasion when a day-night encounter will be played at this ground.

After the kind of summer that both, Australia and West Indies have had, it will be very difficult to bet against the hosts, the offer of 4/11 (Sky Bet) for the hosts to make it 1-0 notwithstanding. And despite losing the four ODIs and two Test matches, West Indies are surprisingly at 12/5 (Bet365) to win the game, thanks primarily to the format of the game. Also, West Indies have yet to lose to Australia in T20Is so far.

Australia will be led by Michael Clarke (9/2 at Sky Bet to top-score for Australia) post the retirement of Ricky Ponting from this format, whereas Cameron White (11/2 at Stan James to be the best batsman for Australia) will be his deputy. Apart from this duo, the Aussies will rely on their opening pair of Shane Watson (7/2 at Boylesports) and Dave Warner (4/1 at Sky Bet, both to be the best batsmen in the game), both of whom have been in classic touch at respective levels.

The one batsman who interests me, though, is David Hussey (6/1 at 888Sport to top-score for Australia). He is no longer a part of the ODIs for Australia and so does understand that he needs to make the best out of this format. His unbeaten 40 against Pakistan had won his side the match, and I suspect, he will be gunning for another big one here.

The West Indian batsmen have had a good show going for them in this format of the game. Chris Gayle’s (3/1 at Ladbrokes to top-score for West Indies) explosive batting at the top will need to show after a lacklustre ODI series, whereas Lendl Simmons (11/2 at 888Sport to be the best batsman for West Indies) will look to regain his touch back in this format. Gayle had begun to show some signs of regaining his lost form before he was dismissed by Bollinger in the last ODI.

With Dwaye Smith (10/1 at Bet Fred to be the best batsman for West Indies) and Kieron Pollard (5/1 at Stan James to top-score for his side) having represented the Australian first class sides during the KFC Big Bash T20, they will be pushed up the order and things could interesting between their aggression and Shaun Tait’s pace. However, the tourists must realise that 20 overs is a lot of time at the crease, and hence, throwing their bats about without much rhyme or reason could result in the games ending quicker than expected.

Tips:
Favourites: Australia (4/11 at Sky Bet)
Top Australian batsman: David Hussey (6/1 at 888Sport)
Top West Indian batsman: Chris Gayle (3/1 at Ladbrokes)