Dyson doubts West Indies' chances

John Dyson, the former West Indies coach, does not expect Chris Gayle's outfit to trouble Australia during the three-Test series because of their disrupted preparation. The squad's major players are on their first tour since a lengthy strike and Dyson, who was dismissed in September, doubts the tourists' credentials against the world's No. 4 team.

"Because of the lack of cricket and the preparation that they've had, it's going to be a difficult summer," Dyson said in the Sunday Herald Sun. "They just haven't played enough serious cricket - most of them have been on strike. They're going to have to find form very quickly."

Dyson, who played 30 Tests for Australia, spent two years in the Caribbean and said the region's cricket was "stuck in the past". "You look at that great era they had [in the 1980s and 90s] and what a fantastic team it was - they were just blessed at that particular time with a team of great players," Dyson said. "But given the way everyone else has progressed and the West Indies haven't, it's difficult to see that happening again. Everyone else has moved forward."

The visitors arrived in Australia on Friday and have their only warm-up for the first Test, which starts at the Gabba on November 26, against Queensland from Wednesday. David Williams, the new coach, expects to pick a full strength line-up for the four-day fixture and has Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Dwayne Bravo to call on.