Australia vs West Indies, AUS vs WI, Today Match Prediction 17 January 2024

AUS vs WI Match Prediction & Analysis

Although on paper, this looks like being a one-sided affair in Adelaide, there are two very interesting sub-plots to the Test Match.

Firstly, this Test is the start of Australia's post-David Warner era in this format. After 112 Tests and 205 innings, the snarling left-handed opener has hung up his baggy green cap with an average of 44.59 and a top score of 335 not out. Although his form has slightly tailed off over recent years, his are still big shoes to fill at the top of the order. 

Secondly, West Indies have arrived down-under with six uncapped players within their 15-man squad for this series. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to work out that that means we will definitely be seeing some debutants for the visitors in Adelaide as they try and find a way to rebuild themselves as a Test playing nation.

RECENT PERFORMANCE

AUS

W W W L L

AUS

299/10 in 109.4 2.73

AUS vs PAK 2023-24

Australia won by 8 wkts 03 Jan 2024

PAK

130/2 in 25.5 5.03

AUS

318/10 in 96.5 3.28

AUS vs PAK 2023-24

Australia won by 79 runs 26 Dec 2023

PAK

237/10 in 67.2 3.52

AUS

487/10 in 113.2 4.3

AUS vs PAK 2023-24

Australia beat Pakistan by 360 runs 14 Dec 2023

PAK

89/10 in 30.2 2.93

ENG

283/10 in 54.4 5.18

The Ashes 2023

England won by 49 runs

27 Jul 2023

AUS

395/10 in 81.5 4.83

ENG

237/10 in 52.3 4.51

The Ashes 2023

England won by 3 wickets

06 Jul 2023

AUS

254/7 in 50.0 5.08

WI

L

WI

150/10 in 64.3 2.33

WI vs IND

India won by an innings and 141 runs

12 Jul 2023

IND

130/10 in 50.3 2.57

HEAD TO HEAD

TEAMS PREVIEW

Australia Preview

There was one question which the Australia selectors had to answer ahead of this series which was: What's the best way to replace an opener with a Test batting average of 44.59? And they have settled on the answer: replace him at the top of the order with a man with a Test batting average of 58.01! Steve Smith, who has dominated Test bowling attacks over he last decade, will stride out to the middle alongside Usman Khawaja to open the innings in Adelaide.

With the ball, Australia have no injuries which means the tried and tested quad of captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon will do the bulk of the bowling. Warner's retirement and Smith's shunt up the order has also helped the bowling attack who now have all-rounder Cameron Green to take on the role of the fifth option.

Australia Predicted Playing XI:

Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Australia Actual Playing XI:

Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon

West Indies Preview

Of the six players without Test experience in West Indies' squad, we expect to see Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves and Shamar Joseph making their debuts for the side at the Adelaide Oval. Hodge and Greaves are both middle order batting all-rounders whereas Joseph, no relation to vice-captain Alzarri Joseph, is a quick right-arm bowler.

With the bat, we can expect the bulk of West Indies' runs to come from captain Kraigg Brathwaite, fellow opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze who has made a decent impression since coming into the national team last year.

Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph will lead the bowling attack and hopes are high that left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie can add to his impressive start at this level which has delivered 22 wickets from four Tests.

West Indies Predicted Playing XI:

Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves, Alick Athanaze, Joshua De Silva (wk), Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie

West Indies Actual Playing XI:

Kraigg Brathwaite, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Kirk McKenzie, Justin Greaves, Joshua Da Silva, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

According to the forecast, there will be some cloud cover over the first two days with the temperature not going over 25 degrees. However, from day three onwards, we can expect the sun to dominate with plenty of sunshine and the temperature likely to be in the low thirties.

AUS vs WI Pitch Report

There have been plenty of pink ball Tests at the Adelaide Oval over recent years so a red ball Test in South Australia is a bit of a treat for the locals. There will be plenty of runs on offer over the first few days and we expect a par score to be approaching 500 in the first innings of the match.

Toss: To Bowl

The best batting conditions are likely to be over the first few days of the Test with the pitch expected to turn a great deal over the final days. The sun is predicted to bake the surface on days three and four leaving plenty of turn on day five. As a result, we anticipate both teams will be keen to bat first.