Australia will host the West Indies in the first test match of the Frank Worrell Trophy at Gabba in Brisbane on Thursday. It will be Australia’s first test match after their Ashes loss, whereas the first-choice West Indian side will look to put the ghosts of their feud with the cricket board behind them and feature in an international after almost five months.

Despite the return of the top players for the West Indian side, the bookmakers obviously think that the Aussies are in for a cakewalk. Sky Bet offers 12/1 for a West Indian win, as compared to the odds of 2/7 (Boylesports) for the hosts to go 1-0 up. The discrepancy could also be attributed to the venue being Australia’s stronghold, on which they have yet to lose a game out of the last twenty that have been played here. Starting 2004, there have been five test matches played in Gabba, and all of them have been won – comfortably if one may add – by the hosts.

To add to the Aussie glee, two of their main test match players, Michael Clarke (5/1 at Bet365 to top the Australian scorecard) and Brad Haddin (14/1 at 888Sport to be the best batsman for his side) are back into the side after a prolonged absence due to injuries. Ricky Ponting continues to be the favourite to be the best batsman for his side, with Ladbrokes offering 3/1 for it, whereas Simon Katich is up there with his captain as 888Sport offers 4/1 for him to top-score for Australia.

Michael Hussey’s (5/1 at Paddy Power to be the best Australian batsman) place in the test team had been in doubt, but his performances in the fifty overs format over the last couple of tournaments would have eased off some pressure. It remains to be seen whether the Oval century in an Ashes losing cause prolongs his test career in the same manner as it had for Mathew Hayden in 2005!

West Indies almost lost captain Chris Gayle (7/2 at Bet Fred to top his side’s batting) for this game to his mom’s illness, but all seems to be well for now, and a jet-lagged Gayle will take the field. There will be obvious rustiness and that could be one reason, he is third behind Ramnaresh Sarwan (3/1 at 888Sport) and Shivnaraine Chanderpaul (10/3 at Paddy Power) to top score for his side. However, there is a chance that Sarwan misses out playing the game due to his back injury, which will mean that Travis Dowlin (15/2 at 888Sport to be the best batsman for his side) could continue his remarkable run in the side. He had earlier been chosen after the main guys had opted out of the series against Bangladesh due to the issues with the board.

The one batsman to watch out for will be Adrian Barath. The 19-year old has yet to play a single international game, but had captured the imagination of the cricket fans around the world in the Champions League T20 earlier this year. While that was relatively easier than opening against Australia at Brisbane, he has also been tipped by the great Brian Lara to be the one for the future. The series should reveal the veracity of Lara’s claim to the fullest! Bet Fred offers 13/2 for him to be the best scorer for his side.

Tips:
Favourites: Australia (2/7 at Boylesports)
Top Australian batsman: Michael Hussey (5/1 at Paddy Power)
Top West Indian batsman: Shivnaraine Chanderpaul (10/3 at Paddy Power)