Experienced Brisbane curator Kevin Mitchell said he expected the wicket to suit fast bowlers on the first day before evening out and becoming easy to bat on as the game progressed.
“If the preparation goes as planned in a five-day Test match [here] you would go in with three quicks and a spinner,” said experienced Brisbane curator Kevin Mitchell. “It will be a fairly typical Gabba Test wicket – maybe a little more life than would be normal early.
“‘If you get a bit of humidity the ball swings around like the first [Sheffield] Shield match. In that regard you’re in the lap of the Gods.”
West Indies boast several fast bowlers in their ranks with Jerome Taylor, Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul and Gavin Tonge included in the 15-man squad.
Left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn is the only slow bowling option with Chris Gayle – if he returns in time from Jamaica where his mother is ill – expected to complement the attack with his off-spin.
Mitchell said spinners would play a role later in the encounter as the pitch deteriorated from wear and tear.
“You would generally think it will be pretty good for batting day two and three and wear a bit on day four and five. It will definitely deteriorate as the game goes on,” he explained.
West Indies pacers will hope for a reversal of fortunes to what they experienced in their four-day tour match against Queensland Bulls.
The won the toss and batted on the first day and were bundled out for 271 on a wicket that offered assistance to the faster bowlers. However, the pitch flatted out thereafter and Queensland piled up 617 for seven as the Windies bowler struggled in docile conditions.
