The first and inaugural Test of a three match series between host Australia and the West Indies will be played at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Thursday. Watch the live stream here, here, here and live scores here, here, here. The five day match starts at 10:30 a.m. local time on Dec. 10 or 11:30 p.m. GMT (6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT) on Dec.9.
Australia, which recently won the Test series against New Zealand by 2-0, is likely to dominate over the visitors. West Indies lost its tour match by ten wickets to Cricket Australia XI.
West Indies' fast bowling consultant Curtly Ambrose admitted that the Jason Holder-led squad is relatively younger and inexperienced as compare to the Aussie squad, but he dismissed suggestions that the West Indies can't beat Australia.
"At the end of the day, when we perform and we beat Australia, the reporters will have to change their tune. We're here to do a job and we're going to make a good job of it," he said on Tuesday, according to New Zealand Herald. "Being here alone should be more than enough motivation for the players, but having heard all those comments should be ideal motivation for them."
Fast bowler James Pattinson will play first Test for Australia instead of injured pacer Mitchell Starc, skipper Steve Smith announced Wednesday, according to The Star. Starc is likely to miss the Test series against the West Indies due to an ankle injury. Struggling all-rounder Mitchell Marsh is also retained in the squad.
The Probable Squads
Australia
Steve Smith, Joe Burns, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges, David Warner
West Indies
Jason Holder, Kraigg BRathwaite, Devendra Bishoo, Jemaine Blackwood, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Rajindra Chandrika, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Jomel Warrican
