In a span of just 24 hours, this series is one match away from being decided. Australia need to win to keep things alive, a position they found themselves in on a tour of New Zealand that would give them some encouragement that a rebound is possible but West Indies' confidence will be high after their two wins.
West Indies have some problems in the top-order but the way they made a big total with their performances, with Andre Russell sprinkling at the end with a 103-run stand between Shimron Hetmyer and Dwayne Bravo on Saturday. Was clinical with the ball.
Australia were anything but. And while there is probably some mitigation that can be assigned to them, it is worth remembering that what England were achieving against Pakistan was to choose an entirely new side. However, with major names missing, more is needed from Aaron Finch and Mitchell Starc.
Although he has yet to be shown due to injury, in the pre-series words of Kieron Pollard he called for patience with Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran. Hetmyer has now scored the highest score of his T20I innings and Pooran is riding 100% as captain.
Hayden Walsh Jr can have a problem controlling his length at times but Australia are looking for a handful. Having another left-handed batsman in the middle order could benefit the visitors, but the only option in the team would be Alex Carey. Walsh is in a position to challenge Bravo's 10 in the previous series against South Africa with six wickets in two matches.
Mitchell Starc's figures are not great after two games: 8-0-89-0. Prior to this series, he had not hit more than two sixes in any T20 match. In the first T20I, he was hit for three more than the second five sixes - jointly the second fastest bowler to have been hit in an innings. However, he is usually a player who gets better with more work after take-off.
Pooran will continue to lead the team if Pollard is unfit. Fidel Edwards suffered a hand injury in the second match, so Obed McCoy would be a possible replacement after being rested, although if they wanted right-handed Oshane Thomas to be part of the squad.
West Indies (Probable) 1 Lendl Simmons, 2 Andre Fletcher, 3 Chris Gayle, 4 Shimron Hetmyer, 5 Dwayne Bravo, 6 Andre Russell, 7 Nicholas Pooran (C & W), 8 Fabian Allen, 9 Hayden Walsh Jr, 10 Obed McCoy, 11 Sheldon Cottrell
Australia's senior assistant coach Andrew McDonald made the notion of specialist pace-bowling strong, although it would require a change in balance in the team unless Ashton Agar was dropped. Jason Behrendorff, Riley Meredith, AJ Tye and the uncapped Wes Agar are the other fast bowlers in the squad. Ashton Turner, who is a specialist middle-order batsman, could be the option to replace Ben McDermott.
Australia (probable) 1 Aaron Finch, 2 Matthew Wade (wk), 3 Mitchell Marsh, 4 Josh Phillippe, 5 Moises Henriques, 6 Ben McDermott/Ashton Turner, 7 Dan Christian, 8 Ashton Agar, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood
There will be a new Surface for the third match of the series. McDonald conceded that the conditions were different from what Australia had initially expected for this series, with more pace and pace in the pitches. Strong crosswind has also been a key factor which West Indies have used to good effect. Dry evening is forecast.
Statistics and general knowledge
- Australia has lost 7 for 38 and 7 for 39 in the first two matches of the series.
- Chris Gayle's T20I average has dropped below 30 for the first time since the third match of his career in 2007
"I think it was one of my best T20 innings. I think I paced it quite well. It worked really well for me because people took me as deep as I could. Supported to carry."
Shimron Hetmyer after his player-of-the-match performance
“It is disappointing that we could chase the target but understand that we have learned a lot. Play two, we were just out. It's the one in T20 format, you did a lot of planning and preparation in it, they overtake us. He put a lot of pressure on us with the ball. It can happen in T20s where you get a shock."
Australia's senior assistant coach Andrew McDonald sums up the series so far