Only four players from that Test remain in the side - Kraigg Brathwaite, Justin Greaves, Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph. Their form has been patchy, with Pakistan away and Bangladesh home series ending in 1-1 draws.
The visitors have questions of their own to answer. The WTC final loss to South Africa was a sobering reminder of some frailties, which they look to address in this series. Steve Smith sustained an injury in that final and is unavailable for the first Test (at least), which funnily enough has simplified team selection somewhat. This team is still strong and will start this series as strong favourites.
From that 2015 series, only Brathwaite and Shai Hope remain. From Australia, it is the bowling trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon (plus Smith) that return. It’s good to see a match-up that hasn’t taken place in a decade; one hopes the on-field action delivers. Since the start of July 2018, only two of eleven home series have been three-matches - both against England - so this is a refreshing change.
Why West Indies can win
West Indies have made sweeping changes to the side that beat Pakistan in January. Out are Mikyle Louis, Kavem Hodge, Alick Athanaze, Amir Jangoo and Tevin Imlach from the batting. The former three got a couple of good scores but their overall numbers are poor. Jangoo and Imlach only got the Pakistan series.
John Campbell has been recalled for the first time in June 2022; he averages 26.11 in 40 innings but is coming off a good run of form in the domestic competition (three hundreds and two fifties in six games).
Keacy Carty was dropped for the second Pakistan Test but makes a return on the back of good white-ball form. Brandon King will make his Test debut. Shai Hope is also back in the Test side for the first time since November 2021. Most strikingly, Roston Chase is now captain despite not playing in WI’s last 13 Tests (since March 2023).
There are changes in the bowling set-up too. Spinners Gudakesh Motie and Kevin Sinclair naturally sit out, with the two Josephs back in. Jayden Seales too is back. Veteran Kemar Roach has been phased out - it looks likely he will not get the 15 Tests he needs to reach 100 Tests.
There is a huge wind of change in the West Indies camp under Darren Sammy, so it remains to be seen how they get along in this first series.
Why Australia can win
Australia pushed up Marnus Labuschagne to open in a horses-for-courses selection in the final, but his failures there continued a two-year pattern of low scores. He has been dropped for Sam Konstas, the 19-year old who took on Jasprit Bumrah in the last home summer.
Josh Inglis has been recalled too, having made his Test debut in Sri Lanka this year. His century on debut was followed by a duck, however he has been in good form in the IPL and will bat at four this Test.
Those are the only two changes. Smith’s absence makes it easy for Australia to fit all three of Konstas, Cameron Green and Inglis in the side. The Green at three experiment is one whose results remain to be seen. It is the only way to fit him and Beau Webster - who is fit to bowl - in the side.
There is no clear alternative specialist to Labuschagne at three, so some runs for Green in this series will calm fans after his struggles in the final.
Despite a chance of spinning conditions, Matthew Kuhnemann hasn’t been selected. All eyes will be on the top three this series - Usman Khawaja included - with the Ashes on the horizon.
Venue and conditions
Kensington Oval has hosted just one Test in six years and none in the last three. That one Test saw England and West Indies put a combined 918 runs in their first innings as it led to a draw. It remains to be seen how this pitch plays out.
The forecast looks largely promising with some rain likely on Saturday.
Match stats
• West Indies have won three of the last five Tests held in Bridgetown.
• Since West Indies chased down 414 in Australia, they have lost six of eight home Tests in this contest (the other two being draws.
• Kraigg Brathwaite is two Tests away from becoming the 10th West Indian to play 100 Tests - he might well be the last of them to do so too.
• Shamar Joseph famously took 13 wickets across four innings against Australia in 2024, averaging 17.30 with an economy of 5.05.
• This is the first Test since India at the MCG in 2018 where an Australia XI will not feature Steve Smith and/or Marnus Labuschagne.
• Pat Cummins has a Test five-for against six of eight opponents he has played - West Indies aren’t one of them.