West Indies vs Australia Ball by Ball Commentary

OUT! CAUGHT! Obed McCoy, TAKE A BOW! What a spell he has had with the ball today. He gets his fourth and the final wicket of the game. Serves it a touch short, outside off. Josh Hazlewood looks to poke at it. The ball though takes the outside edge and flies to the left of Nicholas Pooran, who collects the ball with ease and starts the celebrations for the West Indies side. They take an important 1-0 lead in the series. WEST INDIES WIN BY 18 RUNS!

A length ball, on the pads. Zampa nudges it to square leg for a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! What a game we are having. A great start to the series. West Indies are running riot at the moment. Obed McCoy gets his third of the day. He has been the game-changer for the Men in Maroon. Serves a slower ball again. On a length, on off. Starc looks to get under it and decides to go big. The ball though does not get the distance that was needed on it, as it goes towards deep mid-wicket. Fabian Allen coves a lot of ground to his left, as he is coming in from the mid-wicket region. He takes a superb running catch. The West Indies only need one more wicket to end things for the Aussies!

Josh Hazlewood is the last man in.

On a length, outside off, moving away. Starc swings his blade to push it out but misses. The bounce takes the ball over the blade.

Looks like Obed McCoy has mastered the slower delivery. A slower one again. Full and on off. Mitchell Starc was looking to go big but the pace gets him yet again, as he defends it out.

Slower delivery yet again. Full and outside off. Mitchell Starc looks to chase it but misses.

Tossed up, on off. Zampa defends it solidly. 20 needed in 30 balls!

Looped up on off, Starc plays the square cut and gets a single.

On off, Starc works it to the leg side.

OUT! CAUGHT! Maybe, just maybe we are witnessing a tilt here. The Australians had a firm grip on the match, but now it looks like they are in trouble. Hayden Walsh gets his third wicket. Loopy ball, on off. Dan Christian uses his feet and lifts it towards the long on region. Loud shouts for the catch and Dwayne Bravo comes chasing in and takes a sharp catch in the deep.

Adam Zampa comes out at Number 10!

Floated on off, Dan Christian goes back and pushes it to cover.

WIDE! Tossed up down the leg side. Dan Christian looks to pull it but misses. Wide called.

On off, Starc works it to mid on for a single.

A length ball, on off. Starc flicks it to mid-wicket for a single.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Obed McCoy gets his second and he displays his reflexes for everybody to see. The slower delivery does the trick for the big man. Keeps it full and on leg. Agar looks to work it to the leg side but gets a leading edge and the ball goes back towards the bowler really slowly. Obed McCoy does a forward roll as the momentum of the catch makes him do it and pouches this. Brilliant from the big man.

Mitchell Starc comes out!

Back of a length ball, outside off. Agar pulls it towards Chris Gayle at mid-wicket.

Slower ball again. Full and on off. Agar defends it out solidly.

A length ball, on off. Dan Christian pushes it to mid off for a single.

Full and outside off. it's a slower one. Dan Christian moves across and lifts it towards the mid-wicket region. The ball lands in a vacant area. The batters take a couple.

Around off, pushed through covers for one. A successful over for Hayden, 4 runs and wicket off this. 27 needed in 42 balls.

Tossed up, around off, worked through mid off for one.

Outside off, shortish, punched to short cover.

Who will come out next? It is Ashton Agar who makes his way out.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Soft dismissal and Walsh gets the big wicket of Marsh. Tried to go hard at this but with his bat face turning, it turned out to be an easy return catch for Walsh. Tossed up, around off, Mitchell Marsh looks to hit this one hard, but only manages to chip it to the right of Hayden Walsh, who moves that side and takes the return catch. 29 needed in 45 balls.

Another full toss on middle, flicked through mid-wicket for one.

Full toss on middle, worked through mid on for one.

A full toss outside off, drilled to sweeper covers and a fumble in the deep, lets them come back for the second.

Outside off, a swing and a miss!

Around middle, DC looks to work this to the leg side but the ball takes the pad and goes to the left of the keeper, who does well, to move that side and stop the ball.

Fifty for Mitchell Marsh! His first T20I half-century and he will be happy with what he has done today. But he knows that he still has to take Australia past the finish line. Around off, pushed through covers for one.

A slower length ball on middle, pushed back to the bowler.

A slower ball, outside off, Dan looks to sweep this one to the leg side but the ball takes the bat, then the pad and goes to the off side. They take a run.

Obed McCoy comes into the attack now. He gave away 16 runs in his first over but also picked up a wicket. He replaces Fabian Allen.

Full toss outside off, bunted to long off for a single. 35 needed from 54 balls.

Googly around off, worked through mid-wicket for one.

Shortish and outside off, spinning away, hit through covers for one.

Dan Christian makes his way out at number 7.

OUT! BOWLED 'EM! Walsh gets the wicket and half the Australian side is back into the shed. It is a timely wicket and Ben goes back for just 2. Hayden Walsh bowls a flatter googly around middle, Ben McDermott goes back and looks to slash this one away to the off side but misses. The ball goes through and clips the middle stump. 38 needed in 57 balls.

Around off, chipped towards long on, but before the man there, for a single.

Darted on the pads, this is nudged through mid-wicket and they come back for the second.

Loopy ball, on off. Ben McDermott stays back and defends it out.

Tossed up, on off. Marsh pushes it to long off for a single.

FOUR! He is on a roll here. Flatter and outside off. Marsh waits and cuts it past the diving point fielder. The ball goes towards the boundary.

Loopy ball, on off. Marsh looks to cut it away but gets an under edge and the ball ends up in front of the keeper.

Tossed up on off, Ben McDermott pushes it to cover. A misfield gives them an opportunity to take a single.

Floated on off, Marsh goes back and pushes it through cover for a single.

On a length, on off. Marsh pushes it to long on and gets a single.

WIDE! A length ball, wide outside off. Marsh leaves it alone. Wide called.

FOUR! THUMPED! A length ball, outside off, moving away. Marsh stays back and cuts it through the cover region. Shimron Hetmyer covers a lot of ground to his right but is unable to stop the ball in the deep. The ball ends up in the boundary.

Back of a length ball, on off. Ben McDermott hops and hooks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

A full length ball, on off, Ben McDermott defends it to the off side.

A length ball, on the pads. Marsh tucks it to square leg for a single.

WIDE! A length ball, down the leg side. Marsh looks to flick it but misses. A half appeal made by Nicholas Pooran behind the stumps as he collects the ball moving to his left, but it is turned down.

A length ball, on off. Marsh pushes it to cover.

On off, Ben McDermott pushes it to cover.

Dwayne Bravo comes back on. 1-0-7-0 so far.

OUT! CAUGHT! Fabian Allen gets his second and Moises Henriques goes back after a cameo. He was looking good in the middle, his intent was to chase every ball, which did not end up in his favour! Looped up, outside off. Moises Henriques looks to push it to the off side but only manages to get an outside edge. The ball flies towards Dwayne Bravo at point, who takes the simplest of catches. Four down now the Australians.

Ben McDermott is the new man in.

Full and on off, Mitchell Marsh works it to long on for a single. Good running by both the batters.

Flatter and on off. Moises Henriques pulls it to deep mid-wicket for another single.

Tossed up and outside off, Marsh cuts it through point for a single.

SIX! Mitchell Marsh is not holding back and he has made his intentions clear. Floated on off, Marsh stays back and pulls it over the square leg fence for a maximum. The ball ends up in the stands, which means we lose another ball.

On off, pushed to covers for a single.

SIX! DISPATCHED! Full and on off. Mitchell Marsh gets low and powers it over the long off fence for a maximum. Moves to 24.

Tossed up, on off Moises Henriques goes back and pushes it to long on for a single.

On off, Moises Henriques keeps it out solidly.

Flatter and on off. Marsh hangs back and pulls it through mid-wicket for a single.

Looped up, on off. Henriques pushes it to long off for a single.

FOUR! Full and on off. Mitchell Marsh prods and drives it through the cover region for a boundary. Australia finish the Powerplay at 70/3!

A full length ball, outside off. Marsh looks to chase it but misses.

A length ball, on off, pushed to covers for a single.

SIX! HUGE! Two in a row. Obed McCoy gets punished twice after picking a wicket. Again keeps it short, on off. Moises Henriques pulls it over the mid-wicket fence for another biggie.

SIX! POWERFUL! A touch short, on off. Moises Henriques pulls it over the square leg fence for a maximum.

Out comes Moises Henriques!

OUT! CAUGHT! Obed McCoy strikes on his first delivery. Josh Philippe heads back to the shed for just a run. Great stuff from the speedster. Serves a length ball, on off. Josh Philippe chips it towards Dwayne Bravo, who is stationed at mid on, who takes an easy catch to get rid of the batsman. This is not looking good for Australia.

Change. Time for Obed McCoy to have a go.

7 off the over! Length around off, pushed through mid on for a single.

Length around off, worked to mid on.

A slower full toss outside off, Josh Philippe does not pick it up as he looks to work it to the leg side but misses.

On a fuller length, on middle, flicked to deep mid-wicket for one.

WIDE. A short ball, around off, Marsh sways away and it is wided.

FOUR! 50 up for Australia and Marsh does not miss out on this delivery. Outside off, length ball, Mitchell Marsh frees his arms and spanks this one to the deep point fence, for a boundary.

Around off, tapped to point.

Dwayne Bravo comes into the attack now. He replaces the speedster Fidel Edwards.

Josh Philippe walks in at number 4.

OUT! CAUGHT! Wade was looking very good but he gifts his wicket away here. The ball was a smart one, keeping in mind that the only fielder in the deep, in the off side, was Hetmyer at deep point. Short and wide outside off, enticing Matthew Wade to go for the big shot. He obliges and punches this one aerially towards deep point and Shimron Hetmyer has an easy take in the deep. 100 needed in 96 balls.

Back of a length, around off, guided to third man, for one.

Good length around off, punched to deep point for one.

SIX! Second six of the over. Taking advantage of the Powerplay, is Wade! Another short ball, again on the bodyline, not too short though. Matthew Wade swivels and deposits the ball over fine leg now.

Shortish and around leg, Wade ducks under this one.

SIX! Goes all the way there! Was hit against the wind, but still had enough power to go all the way! A short ball, on the bodyline, Matthew Wade hooks this one over the deep square leg fence for a maximum.

Andre Russell comes into the attack now. He replaces Fabian Allen.

So, 16 off the over! A good one for the Aussies! Around off, back of a length, tapped to point for one.

A low full toss on middle, this is clipped towards the deep mid-wicket region. Shimron Hetmyer fumbles in the deep and the batters take two comfortably.

SIX! BOOM! That is out of the park. Connected so well with his shot, did Wade. A smile on his face too. Not too many times that you see a batter smack a six out of the park in West Indies, and the batsman concerned was not West Indian. Around off, on a good length, Matthew Wade stands tall and smokes this one all the way over deep mid-wicket.

A slower length ball, outside off, Wade leaves it be.

WIDE. A short ball, outside off, Wade sways away and lets it pass. Wided.

Good running by the batters here. Around off, fuller, drilled to the extra cover region, where the man dives to his left and half-stops it, but the batters run hard and come back for the second.

TOP EDGE AND FOUR! Wade gets a streaky boundary now. A short ball, around off and middle, Matthew Wade looks to pull but the ball takes the glove and goes over the keeper, and into the ropes.

FOUR! Good end to the over for Australia as Marsh gets a boundary. On a shortish length, outside off, slashed away through point. 8 runs and a wicket for Allen to begin his spell!

Tossed up, around off, Wade pushes this to the cover region, where the man half-stops this, but the batters take the run on offer.

On off, pushed through mid on for one.

Good fielding by the West Indian players! Floated, outside off, Marsh drives this one through cover-point. Two men chase after this and one of them puts in a dive and pulls the ball back, before the ropes. Two runs.

On off, pushed to the mid off region.

Mitchell Marsh walks in at number 3.

OUT! TAKEN! Allen strikes in his very first ball and the Australian skipper goes back for a low score. A good catch too, at the edge of the inner circle and Allen brings out his unique celebration. Tossed up, around off, Aaron Finch slams this one to the cover region. Evin Lewis is the man there, who takes this one nicely. First one down for the Aussies!

Who will bowl from the other end? It is going to be Fabian Allen. Early spin for the hosts.

On off, nudged to mid-wicket for one. 8 off the opening over!

A short ball, around off and middle, Aaron Finch gets slightly low and lets it go.

A full toss, around middle and leg, Aaron Finch swivels quick and works this to the right of fine leg, as the batters come back for the second.

Slightly behind the good length, around off, Wade goes back and cuts this one towards third man, for one.

The Australian skipper is off the mark! Around off, on a length, pushed to the left of mid off for a single.

Australia and Matthew Wade are underway on ball one! On a good length, around middle and leg, this is flicked through mid-wicket and by the time the fielder can clean up, the batters take three.

SIX! Dwayne Bravo finishes the over with a bang! A back of a length ball, around off and middle, Dwayne Bravo makes room and hooks this one all the way over deep mid-wicket for a maximum. WEST INDIES FINISH ON 145/6!

Full ball around off, drilled to long off for one.

On the pads, tickled to the leg side for a quick single.

A fuller ball, on middle and leg, Bravo makes room and swings but does not connect with anything.

Who will come out next? It is Dwayne Bravo!

OUT! DRAGGED ON! Hazlewood gets another wicket and he removes the dangerous Russell. This could prove handy as Russell could have smashed another 15-20 runs in the last couple of balls. A fuller ball, around off, Andre Russell looks to squirt this one out, but the ball takes the inside edge and goes onto clip the stumps behind. A good knock from Russell, just what the Men in Maroon needed!

A yorker on middle, dug out to the man at long off for one.

Josh Hazlewood, after a brilliant Powerplay spell, comes into the attack to bowl the final over.

Leg bye. On the pads, Allen misses his tuck and the ball takes the pad and goes to the off side for a leg bye.

Low full toss on off, clobbered to long off for one.

SIX! FIFTY FOR RUSSELL! Just what the hosts needed and the big man delivers. Gets it in just 26 balls and now will be looking to end the innings on a high. Around off, on a length, smoked away over the deep mid-wicket fence. His maiden T20I century too!

A short ball, around middle, AR looks to hook it away but misses.

Almost a great catch! A length ball, around off, Andre Russell flicks this one hard towards the deep mid-wicket region. It does not looks like there is enough gas on this to go all the way. Dan Christian runs to his right, from long on, and Ashton Agar runs to his left, from deep mid-wicket. Dan Christian gets to the ball, falls down and tries to relay it to Agar, but it is behind him and the ball is on the ground. A couple.

Fuller ball, around off, worked through mid on for a single.

Just 8 off the over! A short ball, on middle, Russell looks to pull but misses.

WIDE. Slower length ball, down leg, Russell leaves. Wided.

FOUR! The long off and long on fielders have a miscommunication and that results in a boundary. On a fuller length, around off, Russell drills this one down the ground, in between both the fielders there. They both come together, but none commits to the dive, which allows the ball to go past the ropes.

Slants in a length ball across the right-hander, Andre looks to heave this one to the leg side but fails to connect bat with ball.

On a shortish length, around off, pulled to deep square leg, for one.

Short of a length, on off, guided to short third man for one.

A slower ball, around off, tapped to point for one.

Dan Christian comes back into the attack now.

16 off the over then! A full toss outside off, AR swings but misses.

A yorker around off, jammed out to third man for one.

Edgy couple! Around off, Allen looks to push but the ball takes the outside edge and goes to the left of third man, who dives and does well to stop.

Fuller, on off, pushed to long off for one.

SIX! Russell power at its best! Back-to-back biggies and he is having some fun out there. A length ball, outside off, muscled over the long off region for another biggie.

SIX! Starc misses his length, but Russell does not miss out. A full toss outside off, this is drilled over the long on fence for a biggie.

OUT! CAUGHT! Mitchell Marsh gets his second wicket. The West Indies side are falling apart. Mitchell Marsh gets his man and the plan works. He goes wide consecutively for two deliveries, setting up the batsman for the one that comes close to him. He serves it on a length and around off. Hetmyer looks to push it out. The ball though takes the outside edge and flies towards the man at short third man. Where, Mitchell Starc takes a sharp diving catch.

Out comes Fabian Allen! Also, Mitchell Starc comes back on to bowl. 2-0-14-0 so far.

WIDE! Again full and outside off, Hetmyer goes behind it but misses.

WIDE! Full and wide outside off. Hetmyer leans in as he looks to attack it. But cannot reach it.

Play and a miss! Good length delivery, outside off. Hetmyer looks to go after it but misses.

A length ball, on middle. Russell tucks it to the leg side and rotates the strike.

FOUR! Boundaries coming in all forms for Russell. A touch short, on middle. Andre Russell stays back and pulls it through square leg for a boundary.

Length ball, on off. Hetmyer pushes it through covers for a single.

LEG BYE! A full length ball, on leg. Russell looks to flick it but misses. The ball ends up on the leg side off the pads. The batters take a leg bye.

A single to end the over. Loopy ball, on the pads. Russell flicks it towards mid-wicket for a single. Good batting.

AND AGAIN, SIX! Back-to-back sixes. Amazing stuff from Andre Russell. He is pumped up. Tossed up, on off. Russell gets under it and works it over the long on fence this time for a biggie.

SIX! DISPATCHED! This is what Andre Russell does best. Looped up, on off. Russell gets low and powers it over the mid-wicket fence for a maximum.

On off, Hetmyer works it on the leg side and rotates the strike.

LEG BYE! Loopy ball, on the pads. Russell looks to sweep it but misses and gets rapped on the pads. This gets a loud appeal for LBW but the umpire is unmoved. They take a bye.

Loopy ball, on off. Hetmyer hangs back and punches it to long off for a single.

A length ball, on off. Shimron Hetmyer pushes it to cover for a single.

DROPPED! A touch short, on off. Russell goes back and pulls it hard towards mid-wicket. The goes uppishly towards Moises Henriques, who for once looked as if he had the ball in his hands, but the pace on it saved the batsman. The batters pick up a single.

Ashton Agar comes back. 2-0-13-0 so far.

On a length, around off. Russell makes room for himself and pushes it to cover with power. Good stop.

A good length ball, on middle. Russell keeps it out.

Back of a length ball, on middle. Russell ducks under it.

Full length ball, outside off. Hetmyer pushes it to long off for a single.

Andre Russell has just watchfully blocked this out. 7 off the over!

FOUR! POWER! Russell does not take long to get his first boundary. Tossed up, around off, Andre Russell drills this one over the bowler's head and the ball finds the ropes.

On middle, swept away to the man at deep square leg, for one.

Strokes this through covers for one.

Presses forward to this full ball and smothers it out.

On the pads, tossed up, SH works it through mid-wicket and rotates the strike.

Length ball, on off. Hetmyer pushes it to cover for a single.

The big man, Andre Russell makes his way out.

OUT! RUN OUT! Oh dear, the miscommunication amongst the batsmen cost West Indies another wicket. It is the skipper they lose this time. A full length ball, on the pads. Hetmyer looks to flick it but misses. The ball clips the pads and rolls to the leg side. There is a huge appeal for LBW but the umpire is unmoved. But wait, Pooran wanted a single but was sent back by Shimron Hetmyer. The fielder Josh Philippe collects the ball and has a shy at the non-striker's end, diving forward, and hits the bullseye as well. The Australian side decides to take it upstairs for the run out. The replays roll in and confirm Pooran was outside the crease when the ball hit the stumps. The decision is OUT. But as the skipper reaches the dugout, he is stopped by an umpire on the sidelines. Because the third umpire will review the LBW first on Shimron Hetmyer as Australia took the appeal. So, the Ultra Edge shows no bat. The Ball Tracker shows the impact is outside. So, Hetmyer is safe, but Pooran has to head back.

FOUR! Nicely played. A length ball, on the pads. Hetmyer flicks it through square leg and finds the gap for a boundary.

LEG BYE! A length ball, coming in from off. Pooran looks to works this on the leg side but misses. The ball clips the thigh and rolls to the leg side. The batter sneak a single. Leg Bye given.

Run out? That's a great dive from Josh Philippe to get rid of Pooran. OUT - reads the big screen. Looks like Australia have also taken a review for LBW and they will also check if Shimron Hetmyer could be LBW. No bat, but impact was outside. So, in a nutshell, Shimron Hetmyer is not out and Nicholas Pooran is run out!

Play and a miss! A full length ball, on the fourth stump line. Pooran looks to slog sweep but misses. The ball goes through to the keeper.

Full length ball, on off. Hetmyer drives it to mid off and gets a single.

Mitchell Starc returns. Gave 8 off his only over.

Full and on middle. Hetmyer flicks it through mid-wicket for another single.

Flatter and outside off. Pooran hangs back and punches it to long off for a single.

Floated, on the pads. Pooran tucks it out.

FOUR! Full and down the leg. Nicholas Pooran sweeps it towards fine leg and gets a boundary.

Tossed up, full and outside off. Pooran looks to defend but misses.

Looped up, full and on off, turning away. Nicholas Pooran looks to go after it but misses. Matthew Wade collects the ball to his left and flicks the bails, but the foot never left the crease.

Adam Zampa is called back into the action. He replaces Dan Christian. 1-0-10-0 so far.

Pushed through covers for one.

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for Nicholas. Just whistled past the man there. A length ball, outside off, Pooran slaps this one aerially past point, who dives that way, but it evades him to go to the ropes.

FOUR! Beats the man in the deep. A back of a length ball, around off, Nicholas Pooran pulls this one to the left of deep mid-wicket and Ashton Agar there, shuffles to his left, but the ball lands short and goes past him, to the ropes.

Fuller ball, around off, drilled to sweeper covers for one.

Full ball, on the hips, clipped to fine leg for one.

Around off, length ball, NP pushes it back to the bowler.

A single as this is turned through square leg.

Hetmyer misses his flick and the ball takes the pad and goes to the leg side for one more leg bye.

Leg bye. On the pads on a length, Pooran misses his tuck but the ball glances his pad and goes to fine leg. They wanted two again but Wade chases the ball down and keeps it down to one leg bye.

Back of a length, on off, Pooran goes back and finds the cover fielder with his punch.

A slower length ball, on the pads, dropped to the leg side for one. The call was for two, but they had to settle for just one.

A touch fuller, around off, flicked to short mid-wicket.

The veteran, Dan Christian comes into the attack now, replacing Adam Zampa.

Another good over for Australia, just 4 runs and a wicket off it! On the pads, flicked to fine leg for one.

A touch fuller on off, worked back to the bowler.

WIDE. A short ball, down the leg side, SH looks to pull, but misses. Wided.

On off on a length, pushed through covers for one.

The skipper Nicholas Pooran walks out in the middle at number 5. Can he play a captain's knock tonight? It looks like his team really needs it.

OUT! EDGED AND CAUGHT! Marsh strikes in his first over and Simmons goes back now. Simmons tried to guide this one to third man but only managed to get it into the glove of Wade, behind him. Slightly behind the good length, around off, Lendl Simmons arches back and looks to steer this to third man, but the only thing he manages is an outside edge. Matthew Wade takes care of the rest. Three down are the hosts now!

Flicked nicely to the man at fine leg for a single.

On a fuller length, on middle, this is nudged to the leg side.

Mitchell Marsh comes into the attack now. He replaces Josh Hazlewood.

SIX! Powerful! Floated, around off, Lendl Simmons slogs this one all the way over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. 10 off the over!

Outside off, cut to point.

An appeal for LBW but turned down. Around leg, Shimron Hetmyer looks to flick but misses and gets hit on the pad. An appeal but the umpire says no. They have a chat as to whether this pitched outside leg and decide that it might have, thus, not opting for the review. No leg bye indicated, so there might have been some bat too.

Around off, pushed through mid off for one.

Tossed up, outside off. Driven through covers for one.

Tossed up on middle and leg, nudged through square leg for one.

Adam Zampa comes into the attack to work his leg spin now. He replaces Ashton Agar.

Around middle, pushed to mid off. West Indies finish their Powerplay, at 24/2!

OUT! CAUGHT! Hazlewood strikes again and the Universe Boss has been sent packing here. He could not get into position quick enough to play the pull shot and the hosts lose their second wicket. Sticks with the short length, around off. Chris Gayle looks to pull but gets hurried, as the ball takes the lower part of the blade and lobs up towards the short third man region. Ashton Agar makes absolutely no mistake.

Who will come out at number 4? It is going to be Shimron Hetmyer.

WIDE. On a length, down leg, Gayle looks to tuck it but misses.

This time, connects with the pull, to deep square leg, for one.

Three dots in a row! Around middle and leg, sticks with the short length, Simmons misses his pull and gets hit on the body.

Another short ball, around middle and leg, angling in, Simmons looks to cut but the ball takes the under edge and looks to be trickling to the wickets, but Simmons ensures that there are no blemishes.

A short ball, on middle, Lendl Simmons moves leg side and looks to upper cut this one but misses.

On off, Gayle watchfully keeps it out.

FOUR! Gayle gets off the mark with a boundary. Just like he always does. Agar serves it short and wide outside off. Gayle cuts it over the infield on the off side. The ball ends up in the boundary.

Full and on middle. Gayle nudges it to mid-wicket.

On middle, Simmons tucks it to square leg for a single.

Tossed up, on off. Simmons looks to go big again but does not get the connection. The ball rolls towards mid on.

SIX! BANG! Lendl Simmons is not waiting anymore. Floated on off, Simmons hangs back and powers it over the long on fence for a biggie.

BEATEN! What a beauty by Josh Hazlewood. Serves it on a length, on off, nipping away. Gayle looks to defend it but misses. The ball beats the outside edge. Maiden!

On a length, outside off. Gayle moves across and looks to defend it but misses.

Good length ball, outside off. Gayle lets it go to the keeper.

Some variable bounce on offer here. A length ball, on off, the ball stays low. Gayle defends it in time.

A length ball, on off. Gayle pushes it to point. He was looking for a single but was sent back.

A touch short, outside off. Gayle taps it out.

Floated on middle, the ball turns in. Simmons yet again is not able to keep it out. He misses his defense and gets hit on the pads. A loud appeal by Matthew Wade from behind the wickets but the umpire is unmoved.

Loopy ball, on leg. Simmons looks to flick it but misses and gets hit on the pads.

Tossed up, on off. Simmons plays it uppishly towards cover, but with soft hands. The ball falls short of the man there.

Loopy ball, outside off. Simmons guides it to third man and picks up a couple.

Flatter and on off, Simmons stays back and punches it to point.

Floated on the pads. Simmons looks to flick it but misses and gets rapped on the pads.

A length ball, on the pads. Simmons tucks it to square leg for a single. A tidy for for Josh Hazlewood. Just a run and a wicket.

Spin time! Ashton Agar to have a go, early on.

On a length, outside off. Lendl Simmons looks to go after it but misses.

A length ball, on off, Simmons keeps it out.

On off, pushed to cover.

OUT! CAUGHT! Lewis has to make the slow walk back to the dugout without troubling the score. A touch short on off, which enticed Evin Lewis to pull this away, but he does not middle it. The ball flies between mid-wicket and mid on. Mitchell Marsh runs to his left to take a sharp catch. Josh Hazlewood strikes in no time. West Indies lose an early wicket here.

Who will come out now? Cheers and claps as the Universe Boss, Chris Gayle makes his way out into the middle.

Back of a length ball, outside off. The ball gets an extra bounce off the pitch. Lewis looks to chase it but misses.

A length ball, on off, Simmons is solid in his defense.

FOUR! Two-in-two! A length ball, on off. Simmons hangs back and pushes it through the cover region for a boundary. This was an amazing shot.

Who will bowl from the other end? Josh Hazlewood, it is.

FOUR! This gets both Lendl Simmons and West Indies off the mark with a boundary. A full length ball, on off. Simmons looks to work it on the leg side. But the outside edge takes it to third man as the ball finds the boundary.

Play and a miss! A length ball, outside off. Simmons looks to chase it but misses.

Simmons already showing aggression. A length ball, on off. Simmons flicks it hard towards mid-wicket.

Starts with a full length ball, on off. Simmons works it to mid on.

The Australian players have made their way out in the middle. The West Indies batters walk out on the pitch. The pair of Lendl Simmons and Evin Lewis to begin for them. Mitchell Starc to start with the ball. But before getting underway, the players of both the teams on their knees, to show their support for the 'Black Lives Matter' movement. Here we go...

Both the teams are lined up as the the Prime Minister of St Lucia, Allen Chastanet, greets everyone. No handshakes due to the pandemic, just elbow bumps. Time for the National Anthems. First, the anthem of West Indies, followed by that of Australia.

PITCH REPORT - Sir Curtly Ambrose is down for the pitch report.  He explains the pitch to us. He says that there are a lot of cracks on the pitch and also a slight green patch. Mentions that the pitch will stay the same for the entire match.

Nicholas Pooran, the West Indies skipper, says that Pollard is not there as he has a niggle and Fabian Allen comes back. Says that they know what they have to work on and they will find a way to win. Tells that practice was really good and they will look to do the right things.

The Australian skipper, Aaron Finch says it looks like a pretty good wicket. Adds that they played two intrasquad games and the breeze helps. Also says he had a slow start in the last series, hopes they get a positive start in the series. Ends by saying he expects a lot from the young lads who came into the side.

West Indies (PLAYING XI) -  Lendl Simmons, Evin Lewis, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran (C/WK), Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Fabian Allen, Hayden Walsh, Obed McCoy, Fidel Edwards.

Australia (PLAYING XI) -  Aaron Finch (C), Matthew Wade (WK), Mitchell Marsh, Josh Philippe, Moises Henriques, Ben McDermott, Dan Christian, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.

TOSS - The umpire and the two skippers are in the middle. Nicholas Pooran flips the coin in the air and it lands in the favour of Australia. They opt to field first.

Woohoo! Cricket continues its carnival in the Caribbean. After the Proteas touched their shores, now, Australia make their way to battle the Men in Maroon, for 5 T20Is and 3 ODIs, starting with the former. The hosts were beaten comprehensively in their last assignment against South Africa and will be looking to make amends. The team from Down Under will want to test their bench and win this series, as they warm themselves up before the T20 World Cup. Can't wait to get underway, right? Well, so can't we. Toss and teams up in a bit.