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ToggleThe AUS vs WI 3rd ODI will be played in Canberra on February 6, Tuesday. The match starts at 9 am IST. This game is potentially a dead rubber with Australia already bagging the series with two back-to-back wins. They are now looking for a clean sweep.
Australia won the first ODI by 8 wickets chasing and the second by 88 runs defending the total. In both aspects of the game, the Aussies passed with flying colors with plenty of youngsters on the side.
Heading into the third ODI, they are looking to keep up with the momentum and complete the clean sweep. Both teams play a three-match T20I series after the ODI series is over.
Aussies are placed second in the ICC ODI rankings while the Windies are tenth. The two teams have played 148 ODIs with the Aussies winning 78 matches and West Indies 61. In 19 T20Is, Australia have won 9 games while West Indies 10. The Test side drew the series 1-1 but the ODI side has been completely outplayed.
West Indies did not even qualify for the ODI World Cup last year. This highlights the problems the team has in terms of playing the 50-over format. This ODI series loss against the Aussies further highlights the dearth of good long-format players.
The players have been giving priority to T20 cricket in recent times with the T20 World Cup 2024 to be hosted in the Caribbean and the USA.
Also Read: Matthew Short to miss AUS vs WI 3rd ODI, Ben McDermott chipped in as replacement
In the second ODI, Wets Indies could not chase down a modest target of 259. They were bowled out for 175 with 40 by Keacy Carty being the top scorer of the innings. Australia on the other hand, was clinical with bat and ball. First, they reached 258/9 from being 91/5 in the 17th over at one point.
Then their bowlers led by Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott clearly showed took three wickets each and bowled the opposition out. Windies ODI skipper Shai Hope scored just 12 and 29 in the two innings. highlighting the lack of batting talent within the squad.
AUS vs WI Match Preview- 3rd ODI, 2024
Australia
Australia will be without a few of their key players in the third and final AUS vs WI ODI. They will be without Matthew Short who sustained a hamstring injury while batting in AUS vs WI 2nd ODI in Sydney. Ben McDermott has been called in as a replacement for the all-rounder.
They will also be without Josh Hazlewood for the final ODI. The senior pacer will return in the T20I series later. Notably, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are also absent from the AUS vs WI ODI series. Travis Head was earlier released from the ODI squad for his workload to be managed. Australia have also decided to rest Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc for the ODI and T20I series.
Australia Squad
Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood (second ODI only), Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson (third ODI only), Marnus Labuschagne, Lance Morris, Matt Short, Will Sutherland, Adam Zampa
West Indies
West Indies are without their senior players like former captains Jason Holder and Nicholas Pooran for the ODI series. They are also without names like Rovman Powell and Andre Russell. Russell off late has been playing T20 cricket as well and might come back for the T20I series.
However, the Windies players have preferred to play T20 cricket as opposed to any other format which is why they have struggled in the other two formats. They could not chase a score of 259 in the previous game which was surprising, to say the least at a venue like Sydney which is considered to be one the better grounds for batting.
The side will look to avoid a clean sweep. But given how they have underperformed in the first two games, a third defeat is possibly on the cards. Skipper Shai Hope needs to lead the side not only as a skipper but also with the bat. His leadership skills will be tested.
West Indies Squad
Shai Hope (Captain), Alick Athanaze, Teddy Bishop, Kavem Hodge, Kjorn Ottley, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Romario Shepherd, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh
Also Read: AUS vs WI Today Match Prediction- 3rd ODI, Who Will Win Today’s ODI Match? 2024
