Picking a Combined West Indies-Australia Test XI
Australia will be hoping their tour to the West Indies proves to be short and sweet.
Michael Clarke's side play two Test matches against their hosts during the brief trip, starting with the series opener in Dominica on Wednesday.
The teams will then move on to Sabina Park in Jamaica for the next match, with the Frank Worrell Trophy up for grabs.
Ahead of the first Test, we have picked a combined XI between the two squads (sorry, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, we were not allowed to select you after you were dropped by West Indies).
1. David Warner (Australia)
Test runs: 3,133 (at an average of 48.20)
David Warner is a fine example of the modern Test opener: While he can defend solidly when needed, the left-hander is all about attacking the new ball.
In 68 Test innings to date, the New South Welshman has made it to 50 in 25 of them. On 12 occasions, he has gone on to score a century, all at a career strike rate of 74.54.
The slow pitches in the Caribbean might not be what Warner is used to, but he should still be able to prosper.
The 28-year-old, who returns to duty with Australia after playing in the Indian Premier League, made a hundred in his most recent Test appearance, against India back in January.
2. Kraigg Brathwaite (West Indies)
Test runs: 1,325 (at an average of 36.80)
The selection of Kraigg Brathwaite gives the combined XI a nice balance at the top of the order.
While David Warner would offer aggression, Brathwaite is all about accumulating runs. He is an old-school opener, happy to drop anchor and bat for long periods of time.
The 22-year-old from Barbados hit his fourth Test hundred in the recent home series against England, though several failures explain why his current average is sitting comfortably below 40.
He has already made a double century against Bangladesh and can be a bedrock for the West Indies for the considerable future.
3. Darren Bravo (West Indies)
Test runs: 2,548 (at an average of 43.18)
When you watch him bat, you can see how Darren Bravo has tried to imitate some of the traits of his cousin, the legendary Brian Lara.
Lifting his bat up high and with an extravagant follow-through, the left-hander has a style reminiscent of his relative.
Bravo's Test average is good, particularly considering he has had to play in a struggling team, but you feel there could yet be even more to come from him.
He hit a double century on the tour of New Zealand in 2013, and only one of his six three-figure scores in the longest format has come on home soil (109 versus New Zealand in Trinidad last June).
4. Michael Clarke (Australia)
Test runs: 8,432 (at an average of 50.79)
Michael Clarke will be eager to get back to Test action, having missed most of the home series against India through injury.
However, the batsman proved he is back to full fitness by leading Australia to glory in the Cricket World Cup on home soil earlier in the year.
The right-hander does not have a great record in the West Indies, having managed just one century in 10 innings on his previous tours there.
If his creaky back permits, he can also send down a few overs of useful left-arm spin.
5. Steven Smith (Australia)
Test runs: 2,304 (at an average of 52.36)
Steven Smith was simply outstanding for Australia in Test cricket in 2014, scoring 1,146 runs with five hundreds.
He has a unique style to his batting, but, after a tricky start at international level, he has blossomed into a star.
According to Daniel Brettig of ESPN Cricinfo, the right-hander—now vice-captain—will bat at No. 3 in the first Test against West Indies. However, in this side we have placed him a little lower down the order.
His leg-spin could also be useful in the Caribbean, where the surfaces can offer assistance to slow bowlers.
6. Shane Watson (Australia)
Test runs: 3,646 (at an average of 35.74)
It was a tough call for the final batting berth in the combined team, with Marlon Samuels and Mitchell Marsh both candidates.
However, Shane Watson gets the nod. He has batted at No. 3 for Australia, but he is perhaps better suited to a spot in the middle of the order.
The Queenslander—who has scored four Test centuries in a career that has been blighted by injuries—is known for his booming drives and powerful cut shots.
While he may seem to be a reluctant bowler these days, the all-rounder's nagging medium pace is easily good enough to give the side a fourth seam option.
7. Brad Haddin (Australia)
Test runs: 3,207 (at an average of 33.75)
Age is no barrier for Brad Haddin, who is still going strong at the age of 37.
The wicketkeeper is aggressive at all times, never taking a backward step. When batting, he is all about attacking, with a particular liking for anything pitched too short.
He did endure a lean time of it in 2014, however, averaging just 17.53 in 17 innings. Still, he gets the nod ahead of West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin.
Haddin missed Australia's last tour of the West Indies. He headed home for personal reasons before the series, with Matthew Wade then the first choice behind the stumps.
8. Mitchell Johnson (Australia)
Test wickets: 283 (at an average of 27.84)
Test runs: 1,868 (at an average of 23.06)
West Indian pitches may not be as fast as they used to be, but Mitchell Johnson will still prove a handful for the hosts.
The left-arm paceman will want to impress in the Caribbean too—his bowling average is 34.70 playing away in the West Indies, which is well above his career mark.
Johnson can add runs down the order as well, and if he is bowling well, he often carries his good form over to his batting.
With an Ashes tour looming large on the horizon, Australia will want their strike bowler to find some form in the two-Test series. Most of all, though, they will want to make sure he stays healthy.
9. Mitchell Starc (Australia)
Test wickets: 50 (at an average of 35.44)
Test runs: 485 (at an average of 30.31)
Mitchell Starc's Test career has yet to really catch fire. He has had successful moments, but they have been the exception, rather than the norm.
In one-day cricket, however, he has become one of the best bowlers in the world. Australia need to find a way of translating his white-ball results in to the longer format.
Still, Starc seems the best option to pick from the two squads for the role of first-change seamer.
He can also bat—the left-hander, who has played one Test in the Caribbean before, made 99 against India in Mohali two years ago, one of four half centuries he has hit for his country.
10. Jerome Taylor (West Indies)
Test wickets: 114 (at an average of 34.35)
Like Starc, Jerome Taylor's overall Test record is not that impressive.
However, the seamer was excellent for West Indies in the recent home series against England, picking up 11 wickets in two Tests at an average of 18.27.
He would be the perfect partner for Johnson with the new ball, asking questions with his nagging accuracy and ability to get late movement through the air.
Taylor has a good record on home soil, too—he has picked up 75 Test wickets in the Caribbean at 27.16.
11. Nathan Lyon (Australia)
Test wickets: 138 (at an average of 35.63)
Nathan Lyon is selected as the main spinner, the Australian having previously impressed in the Caribbean.
The 27-year-old took 13 wickets on the 2012 tour at an average of 25.92.
He took career-best figures of 12 for 286 against India in Adelaide at the end of last year, bouncing back after a tough series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.
While not known for his batting prowess, Lyon has a defensive technique good enough to be given the role of nightwatchman for our combined XI.
All statistics used in the slideshow were from ESPN Cricinfo.