Australia vs West Indies Prediction: Starc should sign off Australian summer in style

Australia cruised to a ten-wicket win in the first Test against the West Indies and the two-match series concludes at the Gabba in Brisbane, where their day-night clash starts at 4am on Thursday, January 25.

The Aussies, who beat Pakistan 3-0 in the first series of their home summer, have a formidable record in day-night Tests, winning all 11 of their pink-ball matches including two at the Gabba.

Team News

Australia could name the same team who played in the first Test although Cameron Green is a slight doubt due to illness. Usman Khawaja has passed concussion protocols and is fit to open the batting with his new partner Steve Smith.

The West Indies are expected to make one change from the Adelaide Test with all-rounder Kevin Sinclair replacing fellow spinner Gudakesh Motie.

Match Odds

The West Indies, who named seven uncapped players in their squad for this series, have not won a Test match in Australia since February 1997 and they are 28/1 to defeat 1/6 shots Australia in Brisbane.

The draw is a 9/2 chance and Steve Smith is 5/2 to be Australia's Top Run Scorer in the first innings.

Smith, promoted to open the batting after David Warner's retirement, made 12 and 11 not out in the first Test while the tourists had opening stands of 14 and nought and Over 16.5 is 5/6 in the West Indies Fall of First Wicket market.

Mitchell Starc Australia Top Wicket Taker (1st Innings) @ 11/4

Bowlers have dominated the Test summer in Australia to the extent that the home batsmen have scored only two centuries in four matches against Pakistan and the West Indies.

Skipper Pat Cummins was outstanding in the 3-0 clean sweep of Pakistan and Josh Hazlewood took nine wickets in the Adelaide victory over the Windies, reaching 250 Test scalps in the process.

The third member of Australia's pace attack, Mitchell Starc, is also closing in on a landmark as he starts the second Test just two wickets short of 350.

The combination of an unsettled weather forecast, a pink ball and an inexperienced West Indies batting line-up should have Starc licking his lips and he is well worth a bet to be the Aussies' top first-innings bowler.

The left-armer has played in all 11 of Australia's day-night Test victories, picking up 61 wickets. In his last six pink-ball matches he has recorded first-innings figures of 6-66, 5-52, 4-53, 4-37, 3-53 and 2-48 and he should cause the Windies serious problems at the Gabba.

Mitchell Marsh Australia Top Run Scorer (1st Innings) @ 17/2

Another Mitchell for the West Indies to worry about is Australia's number six Mitchell Marsh, who made a triumphant return to the Test team during last year's Ashes series in England.

Marsh top-scored with 118 off 263 balls against England at Headingley in his first Test innings for almost four years and he made 90, 63 not out, 41, 96 and 54 in five knocks against Pakistan in December and January.

The West Indies have a lively pace attack including the experienced Kemar Roach and Shamar Joseph, who took a five-wicket haul on his Test debut in Adelaide, so they could do some damage with the new ball.

Middle-order man Marsh missed out in the first Test, caught at slip off Roach for five, but he has looked in terrific touch in all three formats recently and is a big price to be Australia's top batsman in the first dig.

Check out the rest of our Cricket Betting Tips here.