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MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs West Indies live scores, stats

West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite was happy with the choice, saying he would have elected to bat first had he gained the toss.

But Fox Cricket’s Brett Lee backed Cummins’ gamble.

“I think it’s a great call, I think it’s the right call,” he mentioned.

“Aussies to set the tone first and get that opportunity with this brand new ball.”

Michael Vaughan added: “It didn’t surprise me (Australia bowled).

“There’s just enough there and against a team so inexperienced, I think Pat Cummins knows the pitch won’t deteriorate for a few days, so there’s a chance to put the West Indies under pressure with some early wickets.”

The determination will, nevertheless, alleviate a few of the stress on Smith who will open the batting for Australia rather than the retired David Warner.

Warner bid farewell to the sport’s longest format in Sydney final week, paving the way in which for Smith to maneuver up the order.

Cameron Green was re-called at No.4, permitting Australia to discipline what it believes are its six greatest batters.

The West Indies, in the meantime, are enjoying three debutants in Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves and Shamar Joseph.

PLAYING XIs

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

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

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Australian cricket nice Kerry O’Keeffe believes Cameron Green should “deliver immediately” after securing his most well-liked spot at No. 4 within the batting order.

With Steve Smith’s promotion to the highest of the order, Green was introduced again into the crew however at a barely greater place in comparison with fifth or sixth, the spot the place he has normally batted.

Green has beforehand spoken about his struggles when looking for a rhythm decrease down the order, a considerably sturdy remark from the 24-year-old.

But now that he has his likelihood to shine in his most well-liked spot within the order, O’Keeffe felt the Perth native should show why he deserves to be at No. 4.

“Well, he’s almost got to deliver immediately,” O’Keeffe instructed Test Daily.

“The fact that he’s said, ‘I felt rushed at five and six,’ is a jarring note.

“He’s a generational player. He averages, what, mid-30s?

“He really now has to start to do the business at four. It’s a senior position, his fellow players trust him to be the man. He has to start against the West Indies attack, which is not top notch but is not too bad either.

“Cameron Green has to fire almost immediately because the team has been constructed around him batting at four.

“He has to deliver and deliver early.”

‘NOT SURE ABOUT IT’: AUSSIE GREAT’S DOUBT AS CUMMINS SHUTS DOWN SELECTION CONSPIRACY

Adam Gilchrist has solid doubt over the crew’s clarification of Steve Smith’s elevation to the highest of the order, suggesting the transfer says extra about Australia’s “progressive” method beneath skipper Pat Cummins.

Smith opens a brand new chapter in his 13-year Test profession on Wednesday when he opens the batting for the primary time alongside Usman Khawaja within the collection opener towards West Indies, changing David Warner.

National choice boss George Bailey mentioned earlier within the week that Australia was “trying to pick our best six batters” versus leaning in direction of an skilled choice on the high of the order.

Gilchrist although mentioned on Fox Cricket forward of Perth’s BBL recreation towards the Sixers that he was “not sure about” that line.

“Are they saying that we’ve never done that before? I think we’ve always tried to pick the two best openers and then you have different specific batting positions,” he mentioned.

“What this tells me is this team are saying, ‘We are versatile, we don’t conform to expectations – be it external or what history tells you you should do. What we have here is a player in the form of Steve Smith that is energised by this. We believe he’s good enough to do the job’.

“And I think he will, I think he will be very successful. But I just think that under Pat’s leadership they’re a progressive and modern team that say, ‘We’re going to do it the way we believe, trust us, leave it with us and let’s see how we go’ and to this point we can’t question anything they’ve done. They are top of the world.”

Smith’s elevation to opening got here after the run-machine urged the transfer to selectors and Cummins is assured it may work in Australia’s favour.

“It’s a new challenge for him which I don’t think you can underestimate,” he mentioned.

“I’ve never seen him as happy and as energetic as he’s been around the nets the last couple of days. He can’t wait to get out there.

“Seeing someone who’s basically achieved everything in the game get really excited for a new challenge, you’ve got to entertain that.”

Meanwhile, Cummins instructed neglected opener Cameron Bancroft he may very well be again enjoying for Australia “pretty soon” after reassuring the West Australian a line had not been put via his identify for nationwide choice.

There was statewide outcry within the west when Bancroft, the main run-scorer within the Sheffield Shield the previous two seasons, was not known as as much as play the West Indies as David Warner’s substitute.

Instead Smith was elevated to opener with Cameron Green to bat at quantity 4, a transfer which sparked conspiracy theories linking Bancroft’s snub to feedback he made in regards to the Australian bowler’s involvement within the sandpaper incident in South Africa in 2018.

But Cummins, who was one of many bowlers who made a joint assertion denying any data of the Cape Town shame, known as Bancroft to let him know his non-selection was purely about selecting the perfect six batters, and his time would come.

“Yeah, I’ve got absolutely no issues with Bangers, love what he brings,” Cummins mentioned in Adelaide on Thursday.

“(I told him) ‘just don’t change. We’ve loved playing with you in the past and keep doing your thing. I’m sure you’ll be back in Aussie colours pretty soon.”

Selection chief George Bailey additionally dismissed the sandpaper incident, and the fallout, as having something to do with Bancroft not being picked.

Cummins additionally known as Marcus Harris, who was given a Cricket Australia contract and had been pumped up by Warner as his probably successor, earlier than he too was snubbed.

“Called them both. Yeah, obviously private phone calls but no real surprises. Just (that) we love what they both are doing in first-class cricket. We love what they bring to any side they’re playing. They’re doing all the right things,” Cummins mentioned.

“Unfortunately, they both just missed out on this one. So message was ‘don’t change we’re loving what you’re doing and international cricket, there’s always injuries or you know, these guys aren’t going to be around forever.

“Marcus and Cameron are still relatively young as is Renners. So once that opening comes up at some point, any one of them we’re confident can jump straight in and do a really good job.”