WEST Indies and Australia meet today in the series-decider at the Kensington Oval, Barbados, from 14:30hrs, and for the hosts, it will be a massive chance to change an unwanted history of 50-over dominance by the Aussies. Since March 1995 when West Indies won 4-1 in a five-match series, they have never defeated the Australians again in a One-Day International bilateral series.
Then the likes of now Head Coach, Phil Simmons, Carl Hooper and Jimmy Adams were active players and it will now be up to the likes of Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, and even spinner Akeal Hosein. Hosein, speaking on the eve of the key match with the three-match series tied 1-1, said it will be a dream come true to win against the five-time World Champions.
“There won’t be a greater feeling, so to speak, for a youngster to come in and break the jinx for a record that has been so long; it will definitely be a brilliant feeling”, the 28-year-old expressed.
Apart from the success of topping the world powerhouses, it will mean 20 valuable points towards the Super League, and another step at automatic qualification to the 2023 World Cup in India.
In the second ODI on Saturday, West Indies had the Aussies 45-6 in the 13th over, but they still managed to reach 187 all out in 47.1 overs.

The left-arm spinner took 3-30 in his allotment of ten overs, and indicated in the future, they must stick to their plans.
“We have to stay in the moment, not every delivery you bowl you will expect to get a wicket; just have to stick at it, stick with the plan and just keep positive.”
With just ten matches at the international level (eight ODI and two T20I), the Trinidadian said he has tried to saturate himself with knowledge from the experienced players and work with the analyst about how to further improve his craft. As a youth cricketer, Hosein was a top-order batsman, and he indicated that, going forward, the team’s batsmen must be patient and get partnerships in the first 10-15 overs against the menacing Mitchell Starc and company. “We just need to string partnerships together. It is clear that the Aussies are really hurting us in the first 10-15 overs, and it is just for us to see off that period and we can set big totals.”

In the first match which West Indies lost by 133 runs (D/L method), they were bowled out for 127 after being 27-6 in the eight over and, in the second, in pursuit of 188, at one stage West Indies were 72-5 in the 15th over. Changes could be prompted today with the batting failing, and that could see the return of Hetmyer for either Darren Bravo, who has had scores of two and zero, or Jason Mohammed (2 and 11). West Indies ODI squad: Kieron Pollard (Captain), Shai Hope (Vice-captain), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Anderson Phillip, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd.
Australia squad: Ashton Agar, Wes Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (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