Holder senses Aussie 'weaknesses'

The West Indies see weaknesses in Australia's inexperienced middle-order and believe their unproven attack has the nous, and mentors, to exploit them for a Frank Worrell Trophy boilover.

Windies captain Jason Holder may be in charge of a written-off outfit ranked a lowly eighth in the ICC's Test rankings but he declared his young team would be confident and competitive in the upcoming three-Test series.

Although impressed by Australia's 2-0 series win over New Zealand, Holder was quick to identify the hosts' batting fragility in his opening tour press conference.

The 24-year-old allrounder bluntly said the tourists would zero in on the vulnerable Shaun Marsh, and also attack his brother Mitch and Adam Voges in a middle-order lacking consistency.

"We've seen weaknesses we can exploit," Holder said in Brisbane.

"They have some in-form batsmen like David Warner and Steve Smith so it's important we put pressure on the middle-order.

"If we can get some early wickets with the new ball we can get guys like Shaun Marsh who are trying to make their way back into the side and put them under some pressure to score.

"Once we do that then it should be a relatively competitive series." 

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Helping a attack led by Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach to take the key scalps of Warner and Smith with the new ball are the best mentors a touring cartel could hope for - Windies pace legends Courtney Walsh and Curtley Ambrose.

Walsh is a travelling tour selector while the menacing Ambrose is a bowling consultant.

Holder said their experience, past deeds and wealth of knowledge would inspire his men.

But it won't be sheer pace and bravado that will blast out the Australian top-order, he says.

Like both Walsh and Ambrose at their best, the Windies aim to be more crafty with the ball.

"Not only do we have the pace but I think we have bowlers to extract the movement," Holder said.

"One of the crucial things in this series is to extract some movement.

"We have to be skilful." 

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The Windies have stuck with the same squad which has just come off a 2-0 series whitewash in Sri Lanka last month, and also largely resembles that which also fell 2-0 to the Australians in the Caribbean in June.

Holder has enjoyed just one victory in his 10-Test career - against England this year - the only one they've won in their past 13 Tests.

He says the fallen giants of world cricket are aiming for steady-as-she-goes improvement and consistency rather than "two steps forward and four back".

But belief remains high of a series upset.

"We don't just come with some belief. We've come with a lot of belief," he said.

"We have to play aggressive cricket and we have to play smart cricket."