AUS vs WI
Match & Dream 11 Prediction, Betting Tips, Playing 11, Pitch Report and Analysis - Nov 30, 2022
It’s been some time since Oz and Windies played each other in a Test series, 2016 in fact, so you can be sure that they’re more than ready for the challenge. There is some familiarity, as they met in an ODI series back in July, in which Australia won 2-1.
Australia has been focused on the T20 World Cup and ODIs recently, so the last Test match series was a 1-1 draw to Sri Lanka in June/July. Still, many of the names in the squad have been playing well and look set to dominate. The Windies have won three Test matches in a row, although they ended with a draw in the warmup game versus the Australia A squad.
AUS vs WI Team Previews
Australia
Australia has an incredibly strong lineup for this two-game series against the West Indies, and they’ll certainly be looking to claim the title of “Best Test Side in the World” once again.
Much of the batting focus will be on David Warner and Steve Smith, as they are two of the most talented and experienced batsmen in the side. Warner is averaging 46.52 in Test cricket and has knocked up 7,817 runs in a total of 96 matches. While his T20 World Cup performance was underwhelming, Warner was great against England recently, with 86 and 106 in two matches.
Smith, too, is determined for a chance to prove himself, as he only played in one T20 World Cup game and made just four runs. Like Warner, he was fantastic against England with totals of 80* and 94. Smith has performed brilliantly in Test cricket, averaging 60.00 and totalling 8,161 runs in 87 matches.
It will be interesting to see how Labuschagne, Khawaja, and Head all perform in the series, as they’ve all been batting fairly well in the Sheffield Shield games, but they’ll need to earn the spot as there are so many younger and skilled batters coming up through the ranks.
For the bowling, Australia is definitely in safe hands with veteran players like Starc, Lyon, and Cummins (captain) all proving to be adept in the Test format. Lyon, especially, has taken 438 wickets over 110 matches with a solid ER of 2.94. Cummins is slightly newer to Test cricket with 43 games played, yet he’s already taken 199 wickets with an ER of 2.74.
Australia Playing 11
Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
West Indies
The West Indies might not have a squad to scare the Australians, but it’s still likely to cause some trouble. There’s a lot of talent in the side and batters like Brathwaite, Blackwood, and Chanderpaul have been displaying some fantastic performances for their country.
Brathwaite has a tonne of experience, as he’s played 79 Test matches with an average of 34.45 and 4,893 total runs. His role as an opening batsman will be crucial if the Windies have any chance of making this a real contest against the Aussies.
If the name of Chanderpaul is familiar, it’s because Tagenarine is the son of Windies cricket legend, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, so there’s certainly a bit of pressure to live up to that name. So far, the younger Chanderpaul has been batting incredibly well and this will be his first major Test series for his country. He was great in the warmup game vs. Australia A, scoring 119 and 56 over two innings.
The Windies have several pace bowlers that are bound to really challenge the Aussie batters, with the top three undoubtedly Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph, and Jason Holder. Roach and Holder are two of the most experienced bowlers in the squad and won’t be taken lightly by the Australians. Roach has already picked up 252 wickets in 73 matches.
There’s also a lot of focus on Joseph, who has dazzled in his 22 Test matches with 62 wickets and a solid ER of 3.42. He’s lightning-quick and at the peak of his powers at 26 years of age, so he could well be the future of West Indies cricket. Plus, he picked up five wickets against Australia A recently.
West Indies Playing 11
Kraigg Brathwaite, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Nkrumah Bonner, Jermaine Blackwood, Kyle Mayers, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva, Roston Chase, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales.
AUS vs WI Betting Tips
West Indies haven’t won a Test match on Australian soil for 25 years, and as this Aussie squad is still so lethal, there is little reason to think much will change. Australia is fantastic on their home pitches and have one of the best batting and bowling lineups in years.
The odds are incredibly disparate, so it’s perhaps worth putting a bet on Windies as well, just in case something incredible happens. Still, it’s likely to be an Australia victory as they’re by far the favoured squad for the first Test.
Bet on Australia to win.
Bonus Cricket Bets
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Betway
Australia Top Batsman 1st Innings: David Warner
4.50
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He's never to be doubted in a Test series.
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Betway
West Indies Top Batsman 1st Innings: Tagenarine Chanderpaul
7.00
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He has the chance to be the top scorer for his country.
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Betway
Man of the Match: Steve Smith
7.50
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Warner might have a better first innings, but Smith can easily score more runs for the whole match.
We are eager to know what you think of our match predictions, if there is anything we can do better or if you want to let us know your own predictions for the match.