The injury-laden West Indies team seems to be going the Pakistan way as they lost their first two games in the ODI series to be down 0-2. And with the third game of the series to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground, and the captain Chris Gayle accepting that he has become Doug Bollinger's bunny, life could not get tougher for the tourists.

Gayle may dream of a 3-2 result from this stage but the truth of the matter is that he does not possess the ammunition for the same. In fact, he will be lucky to win even one game in the series, and despite the rest afforded to Shane Watson and Brad Haddin, the West Indian side cannot expect the game to be theirs for the taking.

The West Indian problem, much like the Pakistani issue during their tour has been the batting. Apart from the Kieron Pollard down the order, none of the other batsmen have been able to make much sense out of the Australian bowling. Even Pollard hasn't lasted enough to really make the Australians pay, but then, to expect him to do so alone would be expecting the stars. It is imperative that the top-order backs their words with some action and affords the side a start that could lead to some interest in the game.

Talking of interest, the spectators are clearly bored of what they are seeing and the crowd of only 8000 odd people in the stadiums for the previous game means that unless the tourists can make the match-up more exciting, the numbers will continue to degenerate.

The Australia side, on the other hand, seem to be flowing like a river. They have won all their seven ODIs this summer, and that has meant that the hunger to make it eight - and then nine and ten - in a row has only increased. Ricky Ponting showed some signs of getting back to form, but the middle order, otherwise, has yet to be tested.

Michael Hussey, for one, hasn't really had much to do, as hasn't Michael Clarke. Apart from the pair, Adam Voges makes his way back to the squad, and in all probability should play in the third match as a spinning all-rounder. The Sydney pitch does allow for the ball to grip on most occasions, and that is the one reason he will be a part of the eleven.

All in all, there isn't much to say that the West Indians have the firepower to steal one from the Aussies. And in the end, it will all boil down to Chris Gayle having to giving the side a riposting start if they have anything to do down the order.

Tag :- Australia   Brad Haddin   Chris Gayle   Michael Clarke   Michael Hussey   Ricky Ponting   Shane Watson   West Indies