Cricket / Editor / 22 November 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

The West Indies and Pakistan provide formidable, yet very different challenges for the Australians on their home turf over the summer. Frank Riley previews the test season.

At last the test cricket season has arrived and we can look forward to more thrills as Australia does battle with the West Indies and Pakistan.

The first three tests will see the Aussies take on the West Indies. The series begins at the Gabba in Brisbane on November 26. It then moves to Adelaide on December 4 before a third and final match at the WACA in Perth, starting on December 16.

The Australian team for the Gabba test is as follows:

Ricky Ponting (Captain) -TAS
Michael Clark (Vice Captain) - NSW
Doug Bollinger - NSW
Brad Haddin - NSW
Nathan Hauritz - NSW
Ben Hilfenhaus - TAS
Michael Hussey - WA
Mitchell Johnson - WA
Simon Katich - NSW
Marcus North - NSW
Peter Siddle - VIC
Shane Watson - NSW

The one notable exclusion is Brett Lee, whose elbow continues to trouble him. It's doubtful at this stage whether Lee will be fit for selection for any of the tests over the summer.

There's been some confusion about the make-up of the West Indies team after the captain Chris Gayle withdrew from the line-up against the Queensland Bulls. Gayle hurried back to Jamaica to attend to his sick mother. Team officials hope to have the captain back for the first test.

Just six days after the third Australia versus West Indies test at the WACA, the Aussies face Pakistan at the MCG for the Boxing Day test in front of what's likely to be a packed house.

The dates and venues for the three tests against Pakistan are:

December 26 - Melbourne Cricket Ground
January 3 - Sydney Cricket Ground
January 14 - Bellerive Oval, Hobart

The test season looks like an intriguing set of matches between a once invincible Australian side and the young, unpredictable West Indies followed by an experienced Pakistani line-up. It should provide plenty of opportunities to land a blow on the punt.