West Indies arrived in Australia to begin their preparations for the two-Test series against the Australians later this month.
After naming seven uncapped players in a 15-man squad for the series, the Caribbean side will play the first Test against the Australians on January 16 at the Adelaide Oval. The second Test will be played from January 25 at the Gabba in Brisbane.
The uncapped players chosen in the squad are opener Zachary McCaskie, wicketkeeper-batsman Tevin Imlach, all-rounders Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, and Kevin Sinclair, along with pacers Akeem Jordan and Shamar Joseph.
The team will be led by Kraigg Brathwaite with fast bowler Alzarri Joseph promoted to vice-captain. The team has also been hit by the absence of emerging fast bowler Jayden Seales with a shoulder injury.
West Indies are eighth in the world rankings. They have a 20-year losing streak against the hosts and it appears hopeless to put an end to this losing streak with former captain Jason Holder and fellow all-rounder Kyle Mayers electing to skip the series to play franchise Twenty20 cricket.
The West Indies selection panel, led by Desmond Haynes, also chose to omit Jermaine Blackwood and fast bowler Shannon Gabriel from the squad.
The least experienced member of the Australia squad is wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey with 27 caps.
West Indies will be trying to avoid an eighth consecutive series sweep against the Aussies after Australia won a two-Test series last year with matches being played in Perth and Adelaide.
The last occasion the Caribbean side won a Test against Australia was two decades ago during a 3-1 home series loss, while their last victory in the country was in 1997.
