Filed under MCG-6Feb2010

Most consecutive one day wins = 21, is a record list owned by Australians. Not once or twice but thrice team from downunder has won over a dozen ODIs in a row and now, they are again unbeaten for last 9 games..

3 wins versus India in India (plus a no result) and then 5 in 5 at home against Pakistan, Australians now have West Indies in opposition to extend their invincibility if they can cause Caribbean team, although struggling with array of injuries, are a better than Pakistan anyday specially in field.

Shivnarine Chanderpual and Ramnaresh Sarwan played little part in 3 tests last year and still haven't recoved from their finger and back injuries respectively while Dwayne Bravo, the charismatic allrounder who flew into Australia just days ago, aggrevated his thumb injury and will be returning home. Wevell Hinds, the left handed batsman, has been named as the replacement but he won't be available in time for this series opener.

Kemar Roach was West Indies' best bowler of test series and will be crucial for visitors in onedayers as well while Nikita Miller, the left arm spinner, will challenge Aussies with his slow bowling but main weapon for windies, one feels, will be their familier trick of using part time bowlers like Lendl Simmons, Narsingh Deonarine, Brendan Nash and Keiron Pollard along with captain Chris Gayle himself.

Australia, on other hand, are without Peter Siddle who has been struggling with back problems for quite some time now which has allowed Ryan Harris another chance. Harris got 13 wickets in last 3 games against Pakistan and is inform for Aussies although Mitchell Johnson has lost bit of accuracy since coming back from break.

Playing XIs

West Indies (likely) : Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Runako Morton, Lendl Simmons, Narsingh Deonarine, Keiron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach and Nikita Miller.

Australia (likely) : Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Ryan Harris and Doug Bollinger.

Head to head

121st Australia v West Indies one day match it will be. Australia have 59, West Indies 57 with 2 tied and 2 no results. In Australia, this will be 71st encounter and West Indies lead 35 to 32 with 1 tied and 2 no results. at Melbourne, this will be 26th ODI between Australia and West Indies and visitors lead 13 to 10 with 1 tied and 1 no result.

Match start time

2.30pm local Melbourne = 11.30am Perth = 11.30pm Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados = 9am India = 10.30pm Canada = 4.30pm New Zealand = 5.30am South Africa = 3.30am UK = 7.30pm Los Angeles in US = 7.30am Middle East.

Aus v WI ODI records

7 for 51 by Winston Davies in semifinal of 1983 World cup is still the best bowling figures in Australia v West Indies one day matches while 173 by Mark Waugh at MCG is the highest score. 341 for 8 at Basseterre recently on 6th July 2008 is highes total while 87 allout by West Indies at Sydney back on 8th December 1992 is lowest innings total.

Quotes

"It's (Australian winning form) not intimidating to be honest with you, we're going to beat them 4-1. So, not to worry", said West Indies captain Chris Gayle to The Courier Mail.

"I don't really care what he (Gayle) is got to say as far as results go.. All I can say is that I'm pretty confident this group (Australia's performance) can keep improving", says captain Ricky Ponting.