The visitors lost the first match by a huge score of 164 runs and Australia managed to take the lead in the series 1-0.
Also, in the second, day-night Test, West Indies’ sharpness will likely be blunted as several players they hope can challenge Australia miss out due to injury.
Kemar Roach (hamstring) and Nkrumah Bonner (concussion) remain doubts, while Kyle Mayers (shoulder) is only available as a batsman and Jayden Seales has a problem with his left knee. Bonner is understood to be unavailable to play.
Anderson Phillips is in the first row as a quick substitute, while Marquinho Mindley, who arrived in Adelaide from Jamaica on Tuesday morning, is also capable of playing.
West Indies assistant coach Roddy Estwick said,
“You obviously have your plans. I’m not here to give away plans but we’ll have a look; we will see his uncomfortable areas, his uncomfortable moments, and we’ll try and target them as much as possible.”
Estwick suggested Joseph’s spell was the type to attract worldwide attention and gave a slight nod to his protégé Jofra Archer, who he mentored in his youth and will feature in next year’s Ashes after a long injury-plagued spell.
“We were impressed the way [Joseph] bowled with the new ball in the second innings… I personally think a big haul is just around the corner, a five-for [is] waiting. We know he’s bowling at 140kph, he just has to get it in the right area, [then] you can keep your slips in [and] you have a better chance of four or five wickets.”
“The cricket world is so small you can’t hide and once any team exposes a weakness, the other teams will be having a look. I’m sure Jofra Archer, wherever he’s sitting, will be having a look, ticking some boxes; that’s the way cricket goes. But I’m sure if Marnus thinks he has a weakness, he’ll go away and work on it.”
“We are playing the best team in the world and we just want to grind and fight and stay in the fight as long as possible.”
Openers Kraig Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul put on a stand of 78 and 116 runs at the Optus Stadium and will be West Indies’ main link in this day-night match.
“You are playing the best side in the world, no doubt about that. You can’t go gung-ho. I know everyone has seen how England are playing and think that’s the way to go. Well, that’s the way they want to go, fine by them, but with us, we know we have to be as patient as possible.”
“We are playing the best team in the world and we just want to grind and fight and stay in the fight as long as possible. We did that [in Perth], we want to go one step further. It’s all about improving, learning and getting better. You’ve just got to keep fighting and scrapping with the Australians.”