Australia are looking to wrap-up another series victory in the Caribbean, but they will be making a bitter-sweet entry into the second Test against West Indies, starting on Friday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
It will be bitter, following the decision to allow left-handed opener Matthew Hayden to return home, after his damaged right Achilles tendon failed to respond to treatment. Hayden will pursue further treatment options after he visits specialists on his return home, but this immediately casts a burden of responsibility on the left-handed pair of Phil Jaques and Simon Katich at the top of the batting order.
Katich, Hayden's replacement, scored 12 and one, and Jaques made 9 and four, as the twi shared partnerships of 18 and five. "In both innings (in Jamaica), we lost wickets early and to be four down for 18 in the second innings was a worry," Australia captain Ricky Ponting said.
SQUADS:
WEST INDIES (FROM): Chris Gayle (captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice captain), Sulieman Benn, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Xavier Marshall, Runako Morton, Brenton Parchment, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor.
AUSTRALIA (FROM): Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke (vice captain), Doug Bollinger, Beau Casson, Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, Brad Hodge, Mike Hussey Phil Jaques, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, Stuart MacGill, Ashley Noffke, Andrew Symonds.
Umpires: Mark Benson, Russell Tiffin, TV Replays: Clancy Mack, Reserve: Norman Malcolm.