Alex Carey has hinted that Dan Christian could make a return to the One-Day International side for the decider of the three-match series in Barbados while conceding Australia may have to change its approach to spin if they are to win the series.
Australia won the first ODI comfortably but struggled with the spin-friendly conditions in the second, which was delayed after a member of the West Indies camp returned a positive test for COVID-19.
Carey, standing in as captain for the injured Aaron Finch, said Australia needed to halt the run of collapses that has hindered their batting innings throughout the limited-overs tour, in which spinners Hayden Walsh Jnr and Akeal Hosein have consistently taken wickets
“Definitely confident that we'll be able to rectify what happened yesterday [in the second ODI],” said Carey. “I think it's shown in both games, and for both teams, it looks quite difficult early.
“[Mitchell] Starc with the new ball, followed by [Adam] Zampa yesterday, there was a clump of wickets on their behalf as well, and then obviously our batting innings we had the same, where Akeal came in.
“It was difficult to score, and to see [Matthew] Wade and Starc going out there with a game plan, obviously we can learn from that. They looked like they adapted from what they saw in a short amount of space.
“But as a batting group we acknowledge it, we do talk about it. And I guess, tomorrow, actions will show if we've adapted and we're ready for the challenge and I'm really confident that the boys are."
Carey pointed to the success of Starc and Josh Hazlewood as justification for relying largely on pace.
The pair took eight wickets in the first ODI but Hazlewood missed the second match, in which Starc, Riley Meredith and Wes Agar formed the nucleus of the pace attack, while Ashton Turner bowled for the first time on the tour, contributing six overs of off-spin to supplement Zampa’s ten.
“I guess if you look at the first game, it's hard to change a lineup dramatically when you do win convincingly like that and acknowledging Stark and Hazelwood were brilliant in the first 10 overs,” Carey said. “I thought Wes bowled some really good overs as well.
“So, yeah, in hindsight, it's always great to look at what we could have done and who could have played yesterday. I guess when you win by 133 runs you're backing what you've done in that game.
“Going into the second game the wicket didn't look too different to that first game and we combatted spin pretty well albeit the last five overs of Walsh where we were trying to attack, he did take wickets and that's going to happen. So that's probably where that falls.”
Carey confirmed Ashton Agar has recovered from a hamstring strain and is available for selection along with Hazlewood.
“He's definitely an option, I guess, seeing what the spin impact had not only last game, but in the first. He’s someone we’re looking to somehow find a way into that lineup knowing that Starc and big Josh Hazlewood are ready to go.
“Zampa’s bowling really well, Ashton Turner bowled really well, so we'll hopefully get the right balance over the next probably 12 hours before we start."
The search for that balance may also see Christian play his first ODI since 2014. The allrounder joined the squad as a T20 specialist but could replace Moises Henriques, who has struggled for runs and has not bowled, in the middle order.
“[Dan Christian] offers a lot of experience,” Carey said. “We might talk about him not playing One-Day cricket for a while but there's a wealth of knowledge, he's played a lot of cricket, he's playing lots of cricket at a high level.
“So, we have still got options. Ashton Turner’s batting has been brilliant so far while we've been over here in terms of his preparation. He's always wanting to score more runs.”
Carey suggested Australia may bat more conservatively early in the innings, in contrast to the team’s usual approach of going hard in the powerplay.
“We normally identify the first ten overs as being maybe batter friendly and a bit more free flowing with boundaries,” said Carey. “Over here on a slow wicket, with a new ball that can hold in the wicket, it can seam, it can swing, it doesn't come on to the bat as well as other venues.
“On a wicket like this you need some cricket smarts, you need the ability to have good techniques and you need the ability to be aggressive at times as well.
“Ideally we get through the powerplay with limited damage, and then you can set your innings up, but also understanding there are some difficult conditions out there and we're trusting our batters to do a great job.”
Carey also gave an insight into the anxious period after the second match was called off just before it was due to start and the players were confined to their rooms while they waited for PCR-Test results.
“When you do hear about a positive case inside the bubble your initial instinct is hopefully, you don't have the virus,” Carey said. “And a lot of players put trust in the medical staff to go away and do their thing.
“But naturally in a pandemic, and you hear the news, there are going to be questions and uncertainty.
“So, I guess you don't put any expectation on what the next six to 12 to 24 hours looks like when you do receive that news.
“But for the medical staff to turn around as quickly as they did and get us back onto the park and playing cricket, which we came over to do, was a great job on their behalf.
“But I think, naturally, you have lots of thoughts going through your head. Is the series over? Is the next series done? Are we okay? Is it a false alarm? All questions do enter your mind and as to be back out in the park, in the 36 hours after that, well done to everyone looking after us.”