THE format has gotten a bit longer and it is ‘advantage’ Australia over West Indies for this three-match One-Day International series in Barbados.
After thrashing the Aussies 4-1 in the Twenty20 series, West Indies got a taste of their own medicine as they suffered a 133-run defeat (D/L method) on Tuesday evening.
Chasing 257 in 29 overs, West Indies slumped to 27-6 in 7.4 overs, eventually to be bowled out for 123 in 26.2 overs. Captain Kieron Pollard top-scored with 56.
Needing to win today’s match which gets underway at 14:30hrs, Pollard wants the guys to show more courage and put greater resistance.
“Yes, we lost one game and it is what it is. In cricket and in sports, someone has to win and someone has to lose and I thought Australia were better than we (were) on the night and hopefully, we can bounce back as a team with that fight and greater determination,” the skipper lamented at yesterday’s virtual media briefing.

The destruction of the West Indies was done by the towering pace duo of Mitchell Starc (5-48) and Josh Hazelwood (3-11), who used the new ball to menacing advantage. Conscious that more of such will come again, Pollard said the batsmen must come up with better plans.
“We just have to come up with better plans; we know for a fact the first couple of deliveries Starc is going to swing the ball back into the right-hander and away from the left, so technically we have to set ourselves up for that and see what can happen.”
On the eve of the match, they were hit with injuries as the team’s marque batsman Shai Hope suffered an ankle injury while the in-form Fabian Allen was ruled out as well as fellow all-rounder Roston Chase. “We started on the backfoot with our regular opener Shai not being there and we had to put someone else to do the job, but that is not an excuse. We have to find a way to come with a plan.”

Pollard hopes the guys who have been given a chance, grab the opportunity and give a better account of themselves.
The skipper also said they will pay keen attention to the conditions which he deemed to be a bit difficult for both sides.
West Indies ODI squad: Kieron Pollard (captain), Shai Hope (vice-captain), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Hayden Walsh Jr, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Anderson Phillip, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Ashton Agar, Wes Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (vice-captain for ODIs), Dan Christian, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade (vice-captain for T20Is), Adam Zampa. Travelling reserves: Nathan Ellils, Tanveer Sangha.