Windies' ominous tour start v CA XI

The West Indies have endured a horror start to their Australian tour, limping to 6-154 at stumps on day one of their clash with a second-string CA XI.

Jason Holder, the captain of the West Indies cricket team

The West Indies have won the toss and chosen to bat in their opening tour match against the CA XI. (AAP)

Showers cut short Wednesday's opening day of the West Indies' tour match against a second-string Cricket Australia XI in Brisbane.

And it seems the visitors' prospects for this summer's three-Test series against Australia are just as miserable as the conditions at Allan Border Field.

After rain allowed only 60 overs on the first day, the Windies were 6-154 with Darren Bravo not out 46 when stumps were finally called.

Expectations had been low for the third-last Test-ranked Windies before taking on world No.2 Australia.

Yet alarm bells must still be ringing for the inexperienced tourists after their limp display against a CA XI boasting six players making their first-class debuts.

The lowly ranked Windies rested fast-bowling spearhead Jerome Taylor for their sole tour match before next week's first Test against Australia in Hobart.

But their batting line-up in Brisbane is expected to be the same for the Bellerive Oval Test starting on December 10.

In a major worry for the visitors, the pick of the CA XI attack was first-class rookie James Bazley (2-27).

And he only received a nod for the four-day clash when he replaced Victoria's Ryan Sidebottom (foot) at the last minute.

Yet somehow, it could have been worse for the visitors.

Bravo was dropped on one trying to slog legspinner Cameron Boyce out of the pint-sized venue.

It was arguably the only thing that went the Windies' way in an ominous start to what looms as a long tour.

CA XI coach Michael Di Venuto would not bite on the display from the once mighty Windies.

"How they prepare has nothing to do with me," he said.

"But today was a great day for our boys. They put pressure on their batsmen and wickets fell.

"From our set-up, I was excited to see how they went about things - they certainly impressed today."

The Windies have not recorded a Test series win away against any nation except for minnows Zimbabwe and Bangladesh since a 1-0 triumph in February 1995 in New Zealand.

And it seems that trend won't be broken this summer.

Rain ensured an early lunch break on Wednesday with the Windies at 2-52.

They resumed under dark skies and promptly lost 3-17 before Bravo and captain Jason Holder tried to steady the ship.

Holder struck two fours and a six in his 34-ball knock of 26, dominating a sixth-wicket stand of 32, before being caught behind off Queensland quick Simon Milenko (2-33).

Bravo has put on 39 runs for the seventh wicket with Carlos Brathwaite (25no) - the highest stand of the Windies' innings.

Rain forced players off the field for the final time half-an-hour into the last session.

Officials pulled the pin on the day's play almost two hours later.


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Source: AAP



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