Australia win toss, bat against Windies in third Test

ROSEAU, Dominica: Australia won the toss and chose to bat against West Indies in the third and final Test match of the series at Windsor Park on Monday.

West Indies have made two changes to the side that played in Trinidad.

Ravi Rampaul has replaced Fidel Edwards, who has been suffering from a sore back. Rampaul had been out of the side since December 2011 having gone down with dengue fever and also a shoulder injury.

Assad Fudadin had been called up to the squad but was left out of the team.

The pitch has patches of grass on it and there was enough there for Australia to decide on using a three man pace attack.

James Pattinson and Peter Siddle both returned to Australia last week with back injuries.

This has given a chance to left-armer Mitchell Starc, who comes into the team replacing off-spinner Michael Beer.

Australia lead the series one-nil and have already retained the Frank Worrell Trophy.

Michael Clarke's team is focused on taking out the series with another win.

West Indies are still seeking their first Test win against Australia for nine years. If they can achieve it then they will be satisfied knowing that the visitors would head home having drawn the series in each format of the game.

The ground has only held one other Test and that was against India last year and the match was drawn.

In the few first class matches played at the venue, the bowlers have been on top in most cases.

This time around, though, it's thought that conditions could be more balanced.

Shane Shillingford becomes the first Dominican to play Test cricket in his home country.

Only four others have played for the West Indies and one stand is named after two of them, the Grayson Shillingford and Irving Shillingford Stand, two of Shane's distant cousins.

If the weather holds then a result can be expected as both captains have shown that they are intent on winning Test matches after bold moves in each of the first two Tests in the series.


Teams:
West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Kieran Powell, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Shane Shillingford

Australia: Michael Clarke (captain), Shane Watson (vice-capt), Ed Cowan, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Michael Hussey, Nathan Lyon, Ricky Ponting, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner

Umpires: Tony Hill (NZ), Marais Erasmus (SA), Third umpire: Ian Gould (ENG)
Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZ)
(AFP)