Australia now hold the Frank Worrell Trophy after winning the two-match series against the West Indies in the Caribbean earlier this year.
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Last week in this space I expressed my concerns about how the match would go, how well the new-coloured ball would work, and for the safety of the players.
Selectors would be delighted they stuck with Hazlewood after calling up aggressive paceman James Pattinson into their initial 13-man squad for the Adelaide Test.
“We saw weaknesses that we can exploit, it’s important to analyse every batsman and every bowler and come up with plans best suited for the conditions”, he told reporters in Brisbane. But that’s what you get paid to do.
“The whole Test match was a great innovation, it was a great spectacle, and to get 120,000 people through the gates in three days is absolutely unbelievable”, said Australia´s Smith.
Pat Cummins, another promising young fast bowler, remains sidelined with a serious back injury, while Mitchell Johnson’s retirement has further stretched Australia’s fast bowling resources.
Coulter-Nile hasn’t played first-class cricket since the Sheffield Shield final in March but Starc backed him to deliver if called upon. “The medical people always keep that in mind”, Marsh said.
Marsh said he doubted Starc would recover from a stress fracture in his foot in time for the two-Test series in New Zealand in February.
West Indies arrive in Australia with few expecting them to have much success against the hosts, who are fresh off a 2-0 series victory over New Zealand.
Lehmann has previously hinted at sending Nevill in ahead of all-rounder Mitchell Marsh and again acknowledged the switch could take place when Australia face the Windies in Hobart from December 10.
The controversy still rumbled late on day three as Australia completed victory by three wickets in the first day-night test on Sunday, sealing the three-match series 2-0. “I’ve been around the Test cricket squad for a little bit”, he said.
“We have to back ourselves and look to win”.
Smith denied suggestions by commentators that Marsh had been playing for his Test spot, after being run out cheaply in the first innings.
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“I’ve never actually had to go out there and do anything”.
