AGE: 31
LHB
COUNTRY: Guyana
WITH ONLY Brian Lara his senior, both in terms of age and matches played, Chanderpaul is one of West Indies' most reliable batsman.
'Tiger', as he is affectionately called, has notched up 6,069 Test runs at 47.41 with a top score of 203. His 14 centuries and 35 half centuries should be enough to boost his confidence going Down Under.
He also has eight Test wickets with his part-time legspin. Against Australia, Shiv has played nine Test scoring 681 runs at 42.56 with the best of his two centuries, 104.
However, in Australia, despite not scoring a century, he has managed 424 runs at 42.40 with four fifties.
Melbourne is his most successful ground in Australia, following his half centuries (71 and 58) in both innings of the 1996/97 series.
CHRIS GAYLE
AGE: 26
LHB ROB
COUNTRY: Jamaica
CONSIDERED THE team's senior opener, Gayle will be making his first trip to Australia with the Test side.
However, his overall record, which sees him with 3,466 runs from 52 Tests at 39.38, should be good enough to withstand some of the pressure to be dished out by the Australians seeking revenge from their Ashes defeat.
During his five years at the Test level, Gayle has managed seven centuries, which included a triple - 317 and 19 fifties. He has also taken 38 wickets. Against Australia, this in two home matches, Gayle has a fairly good record, notching up 146 runs with two fifties at an average of 36.50. However, if he gets going in Australia, Ricky Ponting and his men could be in for a shocker as Gayle can be very dangerous if given too much time at the crease.
DEVON SMITH
AGE: 24
LHB, RHB
COUNTRY: Grenada (Windwards)
A 13-TEST student to the game, Smith has been identified as a potential opener to partner Gayle at the top, but has yet to prove his worth.
Looking at his Test record, Smith, who first played against the Australians in 2003, has only 625 runs to his credit, this is at an average of 27.17. He has a century, 108 against England, which came at Sabina Park in 2004. Against Australia he has played four Tests scoring 189 runs at 23.62 with a best of 62, but the double ducks he was dismissed for by Jason Gillespie in Trinidad, may still at the back of his mind.
RAMNARESH SARWAN
AGE: 25
RHB
COUNTRY: Guyana
ARGUABLY THE best right-handed batsman in the region, Sarwan is seen as one of West Indies best bets for runs Down Under.
This will be his second trip and with an acceptable Test record of 3,720 runs at 40.87, he should hold his own in Australia.
Backed with a top score of 208, Sarwan has scored eight Test hundreds and 22 fifties. He could also be called on to assist in the bowling depart with his part-time legspin, which has given him 20 wickets with a best of 4-37.
Against Australia in Australia, Sarwan has a poor record, scoring 54 runs, which included 51 in one innings at an average of 9.00. Overall against Australia, Sarwan has managed 341 runs at 28.41 with a top score of 105.
BRIAN LARA
AGE: 36
LHB
COUNTRY: Trinidad & Tobago
THE WEST Indies most experienced batsman and the only player the Australians may fear.
A veteran of 117 Test matches, Lara is just 315 runs away from Australian Allan Border's Test record for most runs and he could achieve that feat in Border's own country. Lara has scored 10,818 runs at 54.09, the best average by any present West Indian batsman.
That includes the two highest individual scores of 400 not out and 375, both coming against England. Apart from those, in total Lara has 30 centuries and 46 fifties and is just three centuries away from Sunil Gavaskar's 33 Test century record.
Lara has a superb record against Australia, maybe the best by any West Indian, with 2,511 runs at 50.22, with a top score of 277 coming in his first Test against them in Sydney. He also has eight centuries and 11 fifties.
In Australia, he has played 16 Tests from which he has notched up 1,124 runs at 38.75 with three centuries and four fifties.
WAVELL HINDS
AGE: 29
COUNTRY: Jamaica
LHB, SRA
IN 44 Test matches played, Hinds has suffered for most part but has produced few important innings for the West Indies.
Two of Hinds' biggest knocks were 213 against South Africa and 165 against Pakistan in 2000. However, after the 165, his first Test century , Hinds went 17 Tests without another century, which shows his inconsistency.
In his past 23 matches, he has scored four centuries, which helped pushed his average to 33.54 from 78 innings. He has scored 2,583 runs with 14 half centuries. Hinds is also a useful medium pacer and has 16 wickets to show for it. Hinds' overall record against Australia is poor as 319 runs at 26.58 from six matches and away 247 runs at 30.87 with two half centuries.
MARLON SAMUELS
AGE: 24
RHB, ROB
COUNTRY: Jamaica
THOUGH HE hasn't played Test cricket since 2003 when he played against Sri Lanka, Samuels is heading back to the country where his career all started.
On that tour, his first Test series, Samuels scored 172 runs at an average of 34.40 with a top score of 60 not out while his overall record against Australia sees him with 248 runs at 27.55. He also took four wickets.
Seen as one of the brightest talents in regional cricket, Samuels, who is admired for his strokeplay, is far better than the 874 runs and one century - 104 against India, he has from 19 Test matches.
Samuels should not find the pitches in Australia too difficult.
DWAYNE BRAVO
AGE: 22
RHB, RM
COUNTRY: Trinidad & Tobago
BRAVO HAS played only seven Tests - against England and South Africa.
To highlight his inexperience, he just started at this level last year. His 36.90 average is not bad for a lower order batting all-rounder. He has scored 397 runs in his seven matches, which included 107 against South Africa earlier this year in Antigua. He has also made two half centuries and taken 20 wickets.
This Australian tour should be a real test for the Trinidadian Bravo, who boasts best bowling figures of 4-76 against England.
DENESH RAMDIN
AGE: 20
RHB, WK
COUNTRY: Trinidad & Tobago
RAMDIN IS the team's rookie in terms of age and Test matches played.
It was just a few months ago that he made his Test debut against Sri Lanka. However, it didn't take him long to show maturity as in his first innings he notched up 56 in an losing effort in Colombo.
He has so far scored 108 runs at 27.00, but seems one for the future. He is also a competent wicketkeeper.
The only 'keeper on tour, Ramdin should gain a lot from what is expected to be a tough tour.
DWAYNE SMITH
AGE: 22
RHB, RM
COUNTRY: Barbados
SMITH IS remembered for the swashbuckling century he scored against South Africa, his only ton to date.
However, he is not one of the region's favourite players and many believe he shouldn't be Down Under.
Based on his record, apart from that run-a-ball unbeaten 105 on debut against South Africa, he has not shown much.
In seven matches he has only scored 268 runs at 29.77 and taken three wickets as a part-time bowler. This type of batsman could struggle big time against Australia if given another chance at the Test level.
FIDEL EDWARDS
AGE: 23
RF
COUNTRY: Barbados
IS YET to play the world's best Test team and it will be interesting to see what he has to offer against Ricky Ponting and his men who are very good at playing pace bowling.
However, he is West Indies' most experienced bowler and with the absence of his half brother Pedro Collins, he will spearhead the regional team's attack.
Edwards made his debut at Sabina Park for the West Indies against Sri Lanka.
He then went on to Zimbabwe to pick up another five in his first Test away, but a series of injuries and poor form has affected.
In total, he has played 17 Test, the most by any member of the present fast bowlers, and has claimed 45 wickets at 44.02.
Though his best score with the bat is 20, he can hang around.
COREY COLLYMORE
AGE: 28
RM
COUNTRY: Barbados
PLAGUED BY a back injury over the past few years, Collymore will be facing up against Australia for the second time, but the first away from home.
He has only played one Test against them, which was the first of his career, which netted him 1-49 in Antigua, six years ago.
In total, he has played 16 Test matches and taken 52 wickets at 30.57, with a best of 7-57 at Sabina Park against Pakistan earlier this year.
Collymore has three five-wicket hauls with a strike rate of 33.41.
TINO BEST
AGE: 24
RF
COUNTRY: Barbados
HAS PLAYED one Test against Australia and went for 99 wicket-less runs in his hometown, Barbados, two years ago.
However, in the 12 Test matches he has played, Best has 26 wickets at 45.03 to his credit. Best has pace and is probably the quickest West Indian bowler but has failed to use that to his advantage.
In terms of batting, he is no chicken with a top score of 20 not out against Australia.
JERMAINE LAWSON
AGE: 23
RF
COUNTRY: Jamaica
CONTROVERSIAL FAST bowler Lawson has been haunted by injuries and a suspect bowling action over the past few years.
He has never played in Australia, but in the three-Test series against them in the Caribbean in 2003, he took 14 wickets, including a best of 7-78, after which he was reported for 'throwing'.
Overall, Lawson's career has brought him 50 wickets which have come at 27.84 apiece. In that are two five-wicket hauls.
DAREN POWELL
AGE: 27
RFM
COUNTRY: Jamaica
HAS STRUGGLED over the years to find the right remedy to dismiss batsmen.
Seems to be coming into his own as he was one of West Indies best bowlers in Sri Lanka. It was on that tour that Powell had his first five wicket haul 5-25 in Kandy.
Powell will have his work cut out for him and against an experienced batting line-up in Australia, but he should learn a lot.
In total, Powell has so far played 12 Test matches, from which he has only 34 victims at 37.35, something he will be looking to better.
Anthony Foster
Tym Glaser
Associate Editor Sport
THERE'S NEVER a particularly good time to tour Australia, but the West Indies may truly get the thin edge of the wedge when they challenge the world champs in a three-Test series which starts next Wednesday (our time) in Brisbane.
For the record, Australia have not lost a Test series on home soil in more than a decade and, although the Calypso warriors did that deed in 1992-93, this version has no Curtly Ambrose or Courtney Walsh to bail them out.
To compound the young but not inexperienced Windies' problems is the fact that their hosts are coming off a chastening Ashes loss which has prompted much soul searching and ritual blood letting in the forms of Michael Kasprowicz, Jason Gillespie and Damien Martyn.
It would be no surprise to see 'Marto' back in the baggy green sooner than later but the selectors may be inclined to groom "younger" talents like Michael Hussey and Brad Hodge with the coming home-and-away series against South Africa in mind.
Therein could lay the Aussies' Achilles' heel as they just may be in an experimental mode against a team which lacks class bowling but possesses, potentially, one of the world's best batting line-ups.
Any talk of the West Indies begins and ends with one Brian Charles Lara; the pre-eminent batsman of the era.
The 'Prince's' last Test hurrah against arch-nemeses Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath should be worth the price of admission to the Gabba, Bellerive and Adelaide Oval alone.
If there's one player the Aussies fear, it's the little master from Trinidad who can and has single-handedly won matches off his own bat.
However, the Australians would be remiss to overlook the likes of skipper Shiv Chanderpaul, the in-form Ramnaresh Sarwan, belligerent Chris Gayle and Devon Smith. With the exception of the captain, they have proved to be remarkably consistent in their inconsistency and they will receive no quarter Down Under.
This is the perfect time for Messrs Gayle, Sarwan and Smith to stamp their first-class credentials but they still face probably two of the five greatest bowlers the world has seen in 'Warney' and 'Pigeon'.
The 'Earl of Twirl' and 'Grumpy' have claimed more than 1,100 Test wickets between them in what must be the greatest dual threat a team has ever mustered. Their departures from the Test arena will leave a gaping chasm in Australian cricket impossible to fill.
Playing support will be the world's consistently fastest bowler, Brett Lee, all-rounder Shane Watson and, on the selectors' whims, either Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark or Stuart MacGill.
Lee is a tenacious competitor who just has to get smart while Watson is the country's pseudo Andrew Flintoff. Lefty Bracken should be the third pace option but steady Clark is due a run and leggie MacGill can't help getting wickets, no matter how poorly he bowls.
TEST RESTS ON BATTING
The batting must come through for WI because the bowling is not going to win any matches and will struggle to bowl the Aussies out twice on three of the most batsman-friendly pitches in Australia.
The names Corey Collymore, Daren Powell, Tino Best and Fidel Edwards hardly raise the pulse rates of the host batsmen. Collymore's a good, average medium pacer, Powell is an emerging talent who just can't seem to claim wickets, Best has no form against Australia and Edwards is an injury waiting to happen.
For the Windies to have any chance, at least two of the aforementioned have to play up to and above their potential.
Back on Southern Hemisphere soil, the likes of Matthew Hayden, Skipper Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer and Michael Clarke should feel abundantly more comfortable as that ball rarely 'reverses', the fields are way more open and the bounce is true.
All said and done, the West Indies probably couldn't have chosen a worse time to visit Australia.They face a re-energised and motivated side which is redefining itself with its eyes on bigger prizes like South Africa and England the next Australian summer.
Given that it will probably rain in Tasmania, a 2-0 loss for the Windies is on the cards.
AUSSIES
MATTHEW HAYDEN
AGE: 33
LHB
STATE: Queensland
TALL, STRONG opener who has apparently reinvented himself after a poor Ashes campaign which saw calls for him to be dropped from the side grow louder and louder as the series continued.
Gave up his belligerent style in the final Ashes Test and his circumspect century saved his place in the side. Followed that up with another 'un-Hayden-like' ton against the World XI in Sydney and looks as solid as ever.
However, against a weak West Indies attack and back on home soil don't be surprised if he returns to his swashbuckling ways. Turns 34 this series but with 22 Test centuries under his belt and an average of almost 53, is poised to have a huge 'bounce back' series.
JUSTIN LANGER
AGE: 34
LHB
STATE: Western Australia
BECOMING THE elder statesman of the side and was one of the few batsmen who could hold his head high after the failed Ashes campaign in England.
A doughty opener with 22 Test tons to his name and a more than solid average of 45.90. A key player in the Aussie line-up because, unlike his contemporaries, is not an out and out shotmaker but is prepared to take time, weather the blows and build an innings. Solid on all surfaces but does have a weakness against spin - although that won't be exposed against the West Indies.
Langer and his opening partner, Hayden, have their sights set on the records of Greenidge and Haynes.
RICKY PONTING
AGE: 30
RHB
STATE: Tasmania
THE AUSSIE skipper has to carry around the mantle of the guy who lost the Ashes until at least the next Australian summer.
The class batsman of the line-up with 23 centuries has the ridiculous average of 55.29 to his name.
Tends to be suspect early in his innings as he goes at the ball hard, but once he gets going it's pretty much lights out. Has tremendous footwork and probably the best pull shot in the game.
While his batting ability is unquestioned, his captaincy during the Ashes series was and it is widely believed that he floundered when placed under pressure by England.
Has also been accused of captaincy by committee but when you have the likes of legends Warne, McGrath and Gilchrist on the field, that shouldn't be a minus.
Needs a solid performance as skipper against the Windies to boost his stock for the following home series against South Africa. A poor performance against the Caribbean side could place his position as the "second most important man in Australia" in peril.
MICHAEL CLARKE
AGE: 24
RHB
STATE: New South Wales
'PUP' IS the baby of the side but is quickly emerging as a world-class bat and possible future captain.
A naturally aggressive batsman who performed reasonably well on the Ashes tour but was hampered by a recurring back injury which eliminated his ability to bowl his more than useful left-arm orthodox deliveries.
Should be a fixture of the team for years to come but needs to calm down some of his youthful exuberance to fully realise his potential which is great.
SIMON KATICH
AGE: 30
LHB, SLA
STATE: New South Wales
A BROKEN finger could see him sidelined for at least the first Test against the Windies, but the fracture could be even deeper than that for the West Australian turned New South Welshman.
Played a couple of handy innings against England but failed to inspire any great confidence in his middle-order duties and the likes of Michael Hussey and Brad Hodge are breathing down his neck for the position.
There seem to be just a few too many chinks in his armour for him to be a truly class Test batsmen. Needs to iron them out quick or he could become another Matthew Elliott or Greg Blewett.
SHANE WATSON
AGE: 24
RHB, RFM
STATE: Queensland
AUSTRALIA WERE so rattled by the performance of all-rounder supreme Andrew Flintoff during the Ashes that the selectors were sent scurrying for an Antipodean version of the England star.
Their answer: Shane Watson. The strong youngster is nowhere near as good a batsman or bowler as "Freddy" but he's not too shabby and could emerge as a Gary Gilmour-type which would add one more weapon to the tiring four-pronged attack the Aussies have lived and died by over the past decade and a half.
It's just a matter of maturity and opportunity for the youngster.
ADAM GILCHRIST
AGE: 33
LHB
STATE: Western Australia
THE GREATEST wicketkeeper/batsman of all time was utterly sorted out by England and, in particular, Flintoff during the Ashes. Flintoff, bowling around the wicket, cramped his patented cut shot and curbed his aggressiveness to such an extent that the previous England killer was a mere shell of his former self and had little impact on the series.
Also, in tandem with his batting struggles, his usually reliable glovework fell off.
Still, his performances against the World XI will keep his heir apparent, Brad Haddin, in the wings a while longer.
At best, he's one of the most devastating bats in the game which 15 centuries and an average of 52.53 attests to. Back home and against a less disciplined attack, he should be able to continue his legacy as an all-time great.
SHANE WARNE
AGE: 36
LGB
STATE: Victoria
THE FINGERS are getting more worn, the hair's getting thinner (but don't tell him that) but this boy trapped in a man's body from Ferntree Gully may just be the greatest bowler the world has ever seen.
Singlehandedly revived the vanishing art of legspin bowling and is now the world's greatest Test wicket taker with a phenomenal tally of 629. Played huge against England (as usual) with a diminished repertoire and simply seems to be getting better with age - if that's possible.
A fantastic competitor with a brilliant cricket mind, should have been captain of Australia but for his off-field indiscretions.
An under-achieving bat, but still dangerous in the lower order.
His battles with nemesis Lara should be enthralling as the legends go head-to-head for possibly the last time.
BRETT LEE
AGE: 28
RF
STATE: New South Wales
PROBABLY THE most frightening bowler in world cricket at the moment. Bowls with phenomenal pace and has an uncanny knack of swinging the ball whether old or new.
Bleeds runs, but is a pure wicket taker and is set to assume the mantle as Australia's premier quick. Performed a little inconsistently in England and was prone to getting carried away with bouncing out batsmen instead of thinking them out, but gave 100 per cent all of the time for his team and country.
Turns 29 during this series, so it's time for him to rein in his aggressiveness a bit and start thinking more. Could almost be classified as an all-rounder with a Test average near 20.
NATHAN BRACKEN
AGE: 28
LFM
STATE: New South Wales
IN THE absence of injured rising quick Shaun Tait and the unlikelihood of Australia playing two legspinners, the tall left-armer may get the nod over state mate Stuart Clark for the final bowling spot in the XI.
His left-arm angle would provide variety to an already pot-pourri of bowling and his age would also count in his favour in an old side. Has played three Tests and claimed six wickets at an average of 58.5. Can also bat a bit with a first-class average of 17-plus. Has honed his trade at Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.
GLENN MCGRATH
AGE: 35
RFM
STATE: New South Wales
STATISTICALLY THE greatest fast bowler of all time with 521 wickets at 21.25 apiece.
If not the best, then definitely the most precise paceman the world has seen. Bowls with metronomic ease and simply winkles batsmen out with subtle variety although he can still toss in the odd quicker one.
Is Lara's greatest nemesis, having dismissed 'The Prince' 14 times in Tests. Their last go around on the grandest of cricket stages should be one to stay up late for.
The lanky, cranky chap from Dubbo will probably hang around to World Cup 2007 and then call it a day. The void he will leave will be unfillable.
STUART MACGILL
AGE: 34
LGB
STATE: New South Wales
IF THERE was no Shane Warne, would Stewie be regarded as the greatest legspinner of all time?
Thirty-four Tests, 169 wickets at 27.76 in limited opportunities because the Aussies have been reluctant to play the leggies in tandem - particularly after the hiding they received from Messrs Lara and Hooper out here in 1998-99.
Bowls absolute rubbish some times but is a prodigious turner of the ball and is a true wicket taker. His performance against the World XI (nine wickets) could push him into the starting XI at the expense of Bracken or Clark.
MIKE HUSSEY
AGE: 30
LHB, RM
STATE: Western Australia
PART OF the logjam of Australian talent which has built up over the past decade, the opener could finally break into the side as a middle-order bat.
Looked sharp in the one-day series in England and maybe should have replaced Katich after the second Test. Averages almost 53 in first-class cricket but has had to twiddle his thumbs at Durham, Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire while waiting for a chance to don the baggy green.
Is only the third man in English County cricket to hit three triple tons (Wally Hammond and Graeme Hick being the others).
A sublime strokeplayer whose medium-pace bowling is more than useful. Should get a run some time this Australian summer.
BRAD HODGE
AGE: 30
RHB
STATE: Victoria
LIKE HUSSEY, stuck in the logjam created by too much success. Diminutive righthander with great natural talent and a superb fieldsman.
Averages 46.61 in first-class cricket with the likes of Victoria, Durham, Lancashire and Leicestershire
Can also bowl some useful offspin. Will be in a three-way battle with Hussey and Katich for the No. 5 spot.
STUART CLARK
AGE: 30
RFM
STATE: New South Wales
ANOTHER PRODUCT of the cricket factory known as New South Wales.
Likened to teammate McGrath for his height and precision, has 185 first-class wickets at an 'un-McGrath' average of 31.39.
Has been wracked by injuries during his eight-year career but the Australian selectors still see an upside despite his age.
Interestingly, could have played for India as his parents are from that country. Will battle with Bracken and MacGill for the No. 4 bowling spot.
Tym Glaser
