Australia will be confident of another big victory against the West Indies in the 2nd Test match, starting in Melbourne on Boxing Day.
The home team were ruthless and relentless in the first Test match in Hobart, crushing the West Indies by 212 runs, with Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh catching the eye with a world record partnership of 449 for the fourth wicket.
Australia look like the stronger team by some distance, and even if West Indies improve on their performance from the first Test, there only looks like being one winner.
The home team have a couple of team issues to deal with, though, albeit good ones, with Usman Khawaja returning to the squad after a hamstring injury. The left-hander was quite impressive in the Test series against New Zealand, before injury ruled him out of the first match against the West Indies.
However, having proved his fitness with a brilliant hundred in the Big Bash League, Khawaja is expected to march back into the playing XI, with the only question being: Who will sit out the second Test?
Joe Burns showed good form in the series against New Zealand and has formed a potent partnership at the top of the order with David Warner, but it will be quite difficult to drop Marsh from the side, after the left-hander's stunning 182.
If Burns, who looks like the likeliest candidate to be left out, is dropped, either Khawaja or Marsh will go up the order to open the innings with Warner.
The West Indies have a lot of problems and worries to ponder over, chief of them being how to stay competitive. Jason Holder's side look well below par at the moment, and that is such a pity considering some of their more experienced players are playing in the Big Bash League instead of representing their nation in the most important of formats in cricket.
"I'm totally frustrated," Simmons said when asked about how he feels watching the likes of Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo playing in the BBL instead of Test cricket.
"It's enjoyable to see Andre Russell bowling at 140 clicks, and Bravo hitting three or four sixes, and Chris back in it. It is frustrating that we don't have them here playing the Test series.
"But it's something that's been going on for a while and it's up to the administration to work out how we get to the stage of, let's say, New Zealand, because they have similar things and they're getting all their players to play.
"It's up to our administration and our bosses to find out how is the best way that we can get these guys on the pitch."
Play without the superstars West Indies must, though, and hopefully, we will get to see a contest at the MCG in this Boxing Day Test match, rather than just Aussie domination.
Where to Watch Live
Australia vs West Indies is scheduled for a 10.30 am local time (5 am IST, 11.30 pm GMT) start. Live coverage of the second Test match in India will be on Star Sports 1, while all the match action can also be watched via live streaming online on Hotstar and Starsports.com.
Channel Nine will broadcast the Test match live in Australia, while all the Day 1 action can also be live streamed online on Cricket Australia Live.
Viewers in the UK can watch the match live on Sky Sports, with the live stream option on Sky Go. Willow TV and Willow TV Online will broadcast the 2nd Test between Australia and West Indies live in the US.
