West Indies vs Australia, WI vs AUS, Today Match Prediction 10 July 2021

wi vs aus Match Prediction & Analysis

The 1st game of the 5-match T20 series between West Indies and Australia at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia would be important for both the sides. West Indies would be under pressure to perform here after their series loss against South Africa. Australia on the other hand comes to this tour after suffering three consecutive series loss and this would put pressure on them. 

Australia’s recent record against the West Indies in this format hasn’t been great and they have lost the last three matches between the two sides. This is something the visitors would like to get over as they go into this contest. Given the strength West Indies have with the bat this is expected to be an interesting contest.

TEAMS PREVIEW

West Indies Preview

Kieron Pollard’s side come here with a series loss against the South Africans. The side can only blame itself as the middle order just didn’t seem to have the passion to win games. This is the area that Pollard would be looking to improve in this game. Australians are expected to give them stiffer competition here and they would have to play well to win this game. 

Evin Lewis and Lendl Simmons did well in the last series opening the batting and a similar show would be expected from them here. It is the middle order where the side would have to make improvements and runs would be expected from Shimron Hetmyer, Chris Gayle and Shimron Hetmyer. They have good depth in the batting with Andre Russell, Pollard and Jason Holder to follow. 

Their bowlers are looking in good form at the moment and the side would expect Holder and Obed McCoy to trouble the less experienced Australian batting in this game. In Fabian Allen and Dwayne Bravo they have specialist bowlers to take care of the middle overs. With Pollard and Russell the side has good depth in its bowling.

West Indies Predicted Playing XI:

Kieron Pollard (c), Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Dwayne Bravo, Fabian Allen, Obed McCoy, Fidel Edwards

West Indies Actual Playing XI:

Obed McCoy, Dwayne Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran, Hayden Walsh, Fidel Edwards, LMP Simmons, Evin Lewis, Fabian Allen, Chris Gayle, Andre Russell

Australia Preview

Last three series haven’t gone their way and Aaron Finch would look to change that here. The side suffered a blow before the start of the series with big names including Steven Smith, David Warner and Glenn Maxwell pulling out of the tour. However, the side does have young and promising players in the squad. Finch would want his young team to play to its potential and aim at an early lead. 

The opening pair of Josh Phillippe and Finch would have to put runs on the board as West Indies bowling attack has done well. The middle order has exciting players in Ben McDermott, Moises Henriques and Matthew Wade. Down the order the side would expect big hitting from Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, and Adam Zampa as both these players have proved their batting abilities. 

They have a good new ball attack with Mitchell Starc and Jason Behrendorff, and they would look to exploit the weaknesses that West Indies has shown so far. In Josh Hazlewood and Zampa they have two specialists in this format of the game. With Marsh and Henriques in the mix the side would go into the game confident about the strength of its bowling.

Australia Predicted Playing XI:

Aaron Finch (c), Josh Phillippe, Matthew Wade (wk), Ben McDermott, Alex Carey, Mitchell Marsh, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Starc, Jason Behrendorff, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa

Australia Actual Playing XI:

Aaron Finch, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Josh Hazlewood, Ben McDermott, DT Christian, Adam Zampa, Moises Henriques, Josh Philippe, Mitchell Marsh

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The skies over St Lucia would be overcast on July 10 and this is likely to offer some assistance for the fast bowlers. The wicket at this venue has been flat and batsmen can freely score on the front foot. We have seen big scores here and the side batting first would target 170 runs on the board to feel confident.

Venue Details

Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia has been a paradise for batsmen. The smaller boundaries make it easy for the batsmen to hit freely. There is little for the fast bowlers on this surface in normal weather conditions but the slowness on the surface does offer lot for the spinners.

Toss: To Bowl

Four out of the five games during the series against South Africa were won by sides batting first. The pitches in West Indies get slower as the game progresses and chasing scores can be challenging. We expect both the skippers to have this in their mind at the toss and the one winning it shall have little hesitation in batting first.