Published on: Jun 24, 2025 7:30 pm IST | Updated on: Jun 25, 2025 4:35 pm IST
It’s time for Australia to shrug off their disappointment with the 2025 WTC Final and focus on the next WTC cycle for 2025-27. The West Indies is all set to host Australia for a three-match Test series, with the opening Test starting on 25th July at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. Apart from Barbados, the National Cricket Stadium in St. George’s, Grenada, and Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, will be hosting the second and third Tests, respectively. In this post, we have come up with free expert tips for the 1st WI vs AUS Test at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.
Australia head into the 1st Test at Bridgetown with a commanding 79% win probability, despite missing Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. Their pace-heavy attack and recent dominance over West Indies give them the edge. The hosts, with just a 21% chance, will rely on home conditions and fresh faces to spring a surprise. However, Australia’s depth and experience make them clear favorites to start the series on a winning note. Toss and first-innings runs could prove decisive. Let’s continue with the post and find out the best cricket tips for the WI vs AUS 1st Test at Bridgetown, Barbados.
AUS: 79% win chance WI: 21% win chance
Sam Konstas will be the new opener for Australia, partnering Usman Khawaja at the top. He is an exciting young talent and a new-age batter who takes risks up front. Konstas can trouble the West Indies batter.
The West Indian white-ball skipper is making his much-awaited return to the Test squad. The right-hander is expected to bat at 3 or 4 and will be crucial with the bat in the middle order.
The former Test skipper will be opening the batting. The right-hander has scored 442 runs in the last 10 Test matches at an average of 22.1.
In the absence of Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head will have added responsibility in the middle order. The left-hander has scored 635 runs in the last 10 Test matches at an average of 37.35.
Check out our prediction for the AUS vs WI 1st Test at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.
The heartbreaking loss at the hands of South Africa in the WTC final 2025 has led the team management to make some strict calls. The Australian batting unit has gone under transition for this series, as two big names, Marnus Labuschagne and the leader of the batting unit, Steven Smith, won’t be a part of the first Test.
The exclusion of Steve Smith from the series was an obvious one after the senior pro got his finger injured in the second innings of the WTC 2025 final. He failed to take the catch of SA’s skipper Temba Bavuma at second slip and, in the process, got his finger injured.
On the other hand, Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped for his continuous poor performance. Having scored only a solitary Test hundred in the last two and a half years makes his verdict fragile, and he has now been axed from the squad for the first Test. With a fairly new batting lineup, the Australian team will come up with a fairly new approach in this Test series.
Test cricket and West Indies aren’t the same as they used to be in the late 70s and 80s. With the brand of cricket they play now, the team is more comfortable in the T20 format than in Test cricket. Playing against a tough opponent like Australia, the hosts should be at their best if they want to deliver the sucker punch.
Under a new leader in Roston Chase, the West Indies Test side would be hoping for a fresh start. This would be the first assignment for Chase, who was announced as the successor of Kraig Brathwaite after the latter stepped down from his role earlier this year. West Indies enters this contest on the back of an away win over Pakistan in their last played Test match by 120 runs. That win came courtesy of Jome Warrican’s splendid figures of 5 for 27 in the second innings on a rank turner at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
Gaining confidence from that win and the famous win at the Gabba against the mighty Aussies led by Pat Cummins, West Indies should show some heart in this series and believe that they can tame the Aussies, especially at home. We hope for a riveting contest between the two sides in this series. Let’s move ahead and check the cricket tips.
Matches Played: 120 AUS won: 61 WI won: 33 Draw: 25 Tied: 1 RECENT form WEST INDIES: L W L L W RECENT form AUSTRALIA: W W W W L
A total of 120 Test matches have been played between these two sides. Australia has the upper hand in this rivalry, with 61 wins, whereas the West Indies has won 33. 25 matches between the two sides ended in a draw, and there’s one tie as well.
How will the two teams, i.e., Australia vs West Indies, fare in the 1st Test? Let’s take a look.
Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Alex Carey (WK), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
Kraigg Brathwaite, Brandon King, John Campbell, Shai Hope (WK), Keacy Carty, Roston Chase (C), Justin Greaves, Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph, Alzarri Joseph, Jomel Warrican
Here’s the pitch and weather report for the 1st Test match between the West Indies and Australia at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados:
At Kensington Oval, winning the toss could shape the course of the match. The pitch tends to offer early movement for seamers with the new Dukes ball, making batting first a calculated risk. However, conditions deteriorate as the game progresses, especially for fourth-innings batting. Expect both captains to lean toward batting first to capitalize on the best scoring conditions and avoid chasing on a worn surface later in the match.
The online live streaming of the 1st Test match of the Australia Tour of West Indies will take place live on the Fancode App. TV viewers can’t watch this match live in India.
As per the odds, the visitors, Australia, have the upper hand. Despite a new batting lineup that doesn’t feature the likes of Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, the team still looks confident and strong enough to tame the West Indies in their own backyard. Right now, as per our prediction, the visitors, Australia, are expected to win the 1st WI vs AUS Dream11 Prediction Test match.