First look at Barbados pitch as Australia prepare for uncertain West Indies surfaces

Australia nearly reached parity, making 406, before bowling the West Indies out for 148 and chasing down the runs required for victory with three wickets to spare.
'Thirteen years ago this was a real old-fashioned, traditional cricket wicket with big runs in the first innings and a hard-fought contest in the second innings,' Lyon said ahead of Australia's first match of a new World Test Championship cycle.
'My feeling is that this wicket is probably going to be pretty similar to that – pretty flat over the first couple of days, reverse swing and spin bowling hopefully comes into it. It's going to be a war of attrition.
'I think it's a real live option to play two spinners here.'
In the 2008 Barbados Test, Australia made 251 batting first, then declared on 5-439 in the second innings courtesy of centuries from Phil Jaques (108) and Simon Katich (157).
Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood averaged just eight runs a wicket on Australia's last West Indies tour in 2015, which featured matches in Dominica and Kingston.
Australia's Tests on this tour are in Barbados (June 25 to 29), Grenada (July 3 to 7) and Jamaica (July 12-16), the last of which is a pink-ball fixture under lights.
'Traditionally, Barbados is probably the best wicket to bat on, and the scores are pretty good in recent history,' Hazlewood said.
'The other ones [in Grenada and Kingston] are a bit of luck of the draw. Typically, they're slower and dry.'
Loading
Lyon added: 'In Grenada I'm pretty sure no one in the touring squad has actually ever been to the island, so we don't know what's going on. Then a pink Test with the Dukes ball … I'm not sure what that's going to be like.'
Kuhnemann is eager to get another match for Australia after his success in Sri Lanka earlier this year.
'I think we've got all bases covered for whatever pitch we get,' he said. 'If it looks like it's going to spin and I play a role, then I'm ready to go.'
Australia's batting line-up is essentially settled. The only uncertainty is the exact order Khawaja, Konstas, Josh Inglis, Green, Travis Head, Beau Webster and Alex Carey will bat in, but that order would make sense.
There had been speculation Head might open, like he has on the subcontinent before, but he quashed that on Sunday.
'I think with Sam and Uzzie there [at the top of the order] that'd be pretty unlikely,' Head said. 'I wouldn't see that being a case at the moment.'

Hashtags

Sports

#WorldTestChampionship

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Gorden Tallis slams Broncos' ‘disrespectful' Selwyn Cobbo move

News.com.au

2 hours ago

News.com.au

Gorden Tallis slams Broncos' ‘disrespectful' Selwyn Cobbo move

Gorden Tallis has criticised the Broncos for prioritising re-signing two veteran halfbacks over Selwyn Cobbo, who is potentially the future of the club. Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt will both play for the Broncos in 2026 in what looms as their final seasons in first grade, but at 23, Cobbo looks like being forced out of a club he doesn't want to leave. Tallis believes the Broncos have been disrespectful to Cobbo by not leaving enough funds in their salary cap to re-sign him. 'The Selwyn Cobbo one is a bit funny to me because I think he is the future of the club,' Tallis said on NRL 360. 'They have re-signed Kotoni Staggs. They have got two 35-year-old No.7's that they re-signed as a priority and they re-signed another hooker when they have got five. 'Then they have got this young talent and they leave $300,000, which I think is a little bit disrespectful for a State of Origin player and I don't think he has lost that much mojo. 'In my opinion when Reece Walsh was out and he went back to fullback, he kept them in a The Daily Telegraph's Phil Rothfield believes Reynolds may have forced Cobbo out of the club. 'The interesting thing is Adam Reynolds said he would not sign a new deal until the other boys had because he didn't want to force anyone out, well he has,' Rothfield said. 'I'm not blaming him, but it was a difficult decision.' Rothfield revealed the Dragons were close to making a play for Cobbo and his asking price shows how far the Broncos are from keeping him. 'Selwyn Cobbo was in Sydney two weeks ago and he visited St George Illawarra and he spoke to coach Shane Flanagan,' Rothfield said. 'They were asking for about $650,000 to $700,000 and St George were quite keen to do a deal for a little bit less than that if they could get him this year because they have had injuries in the outside backs. 'I don't think it is going to happen, but what it does show is how far the Broncos are off the pace with what the kid and the manager are looking for. They are not even halfway there.' Braith Anasta added: 'Let's be honest they think they are still a chance of keeping him, but really they are not.' The Daily Telegraph's Brent Read believes the Broncos could find more room to up their offer to Cobbo, but the problem is his best form has been in a position they don't need him to play. 'Not unless they find another $200,000 or $300,000 and clubs can do that sometimes when they need to,' Read said. 'They can move a couple of blokes and juggle some funds around, but at the moment, I know he played well at fullback for a couple of games, but they don't need a fullback. 'They need him to play well when he is on the wing and he hasn't been playing well, so that's why he is in reserve grade and the kid who has come in Josiah Karapani is doing really well.' 'Maybe he is busted,' Tallis interjected. Rothfield believes Hunt is an interesting signing because he will be trying to break into the hooker rotation when he returns from injury. 'You talk about the old halves they signed and it is an interesting one with Ben Hunt because when he comes back from injury I don't think he is going to play five-eighth,' Rothfield said. 'Ezra Mam is comfortable there and he is obviously the future, so signing Hunt for those two years, not necessarily the Reynolds extension, might be what costs Selwyn Cobbo a spot at that club long-term.' However, Read believes the Broncos are eyeing Hunt as their hooker until Blake Mozer develops into his replacement in 2027. 'I think they are looking at their spine next year with Ben Hunt at hooker and he is a pretty good hooker Ben Hunt,' Read said. 'He is probably the best hooker they have got on their roster. Obviously Cory Paix is not killing it because they are not re-signing him. 'They have obviously made a decision that Ben Hunt will be their hooker and they have got young Blake Mozer on a long-term deal.' Tallis believes the Broncos may have been better off blooding young gun Coby Black at halfback, who led the Maroons to a win in the under 19s Origin last Thursday. 'It's nothing against the two 35-year-old halfbacks, but the future of the club are not two 35-year-old halfbacks,' Tallis said. 'Queensland won the State of Origin with a young 19-year-old halfback that could sit there and get some experience.' 'He will learn off those guys and at some point he will get an opportunity,' Read interjected. 'Yeah, but it is better playing,' Tallis countered. 'It is better getting a taste and you look at the Roosters with their young halves, there is no better way to learn than at the coalface.'