Warner at three to start Cup campaign

Australia will bowl first after Aaron Finch won the toss and opted to chase in their first unofficial World Cup warm-up match against the West Indies at the Rose Bowl's Nursery Ground this evening.

The clash is an unofficial fixture outside of the ICC's jurisdiction, organised to give both teams extra match practice ahead of the official ICC warm-up games later this week.

Australia have named a squad of 12 for the clash, with Marcus Stoinis, Kane Richardson and Nathan Lyon left on the sidelines. The West Indies have opted to rest veteran power hitter Chris Gayle from the match but have made the rest of their squad available. 

David Warner was listed to bat at No.3 with Usman Khawaja getting first opportunity to cement his position as opener alongside captain Aaron Finch. With Steve Smith listed to bat at No.4, Shaun Marsh will come in at five with the elder-statesman of the Australian part thought to be in a battle with Khawaja to play in the XI. 

The Aussies went with a four-pronged pace bowling attack of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Jason Behrendorff, and just the one spinner in leggie Adam Zampa. 

It would be easy to draw interpretations from the XI as to what the coaching staff of Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting are working towards as their best XI for the World Cup, but it is important to remember this is an unofficial warm-up game, with two further warm-ups to be played before Australia open their official World Cup campaign on June 1 against Afghanistan in Bristol.

Australia XII: Aaron Finch (c), Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jason Behrendorff, Adam Zampa.

West Indies XIV: Jason Holder (c), Evin Lewis, Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope (wk), Nicholas Pooran (wk), Carlos Brathwaite, Andre Russell, Ashley Nurse, Shannon Gabriel, Fabian Allen, Kemar Roach, Oshane Thomas, Sheldon Cottrell.

Given the match has unofficial status and performances will not count towards any players' List A or ODI career stats, either side can use up to all 15 squad members in the match, but it is understood the Australians have taken a decision to restrict participants to the 12 named.

Image Id: AD233369BCE844D6A6DABFA3CDC589FE Image Caption: The Nursery Ground // @jeremyarnold_ (Twitter)

There could be carnage in this match with some of the game's biggest hitters to be let loose on the postage stamp-sized ground that has been compared in size to Hurstville Oval, the club ground in Sydney's southern suburbs that has become renowned for enormous totals in domestic 50-over games.

Former Sydney Thunder star Andre Russell, back in the Windies' squad after a dominant Indian Premier League campaign, put on a breathtaking six-hitting clinic during training at the ground on Tuesday afternoon, sending countless balls into trees and the adjacent golf course.

Mitchell Starc said earlier in the week he expected any mid-week golfers might be forced to take cover when strolling the 17th fairway that runs next to the ground, and Australia power-hitter Marcus Stoinis launched a shot into the middle of the fairway during Australia's training session.

Australia's three practice games are set to play an important role in helping coach Justin Langer settle on his best XI for their World Cup opener against Afghanistan in Bristol on June 1. 

The returns of David Warner and Steve Smith has created a squeeze for top-order spots, while a decision will also have to be made on whether three specialist pacemen or two spinners provide a better balance for local conditions.

How skipper Aaron Finch plans to use ace quicks Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins also shapes as a major tactical call.

With flat pitches and big scores expected at the World Cup, Glenn Maxwell said playing on the pocket-sized Nursery Ground before moving to the bigger adjacent Rose Bowl for the official warm-ups against England and Sri Lanka, would be good preparation for Australia's attack.

"It's good to put pressure on bowlers and when you get to the real games, you have a bit of respite," Maxwell said.

"It's good to practice your skills under heightened pressure and what you're going to get later in the tournament."

Australia will face the Windies in the tournament proper at Trent Bridge for their second match on June 6, five days after their opener against Afghanistan in Bristol.

As an unofficial warm-up game, there will be no live scores or live stream from Australia's match against the West Indies in Hampshire. The latest scores, news and video highlights will be on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app throughout the match

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

May 22: (warm-up) Australia v West Indies, Southampton

May 25: (warm-up) England v Australia, Southampton

May 27: (warm-up) Australia v Sri Lanka, Southampton

June 1: Afghanistan v Australia, Bristol (D/N)

June 6: Australia v West Indies, Trent Bridge

June 9: India v Australia, The Oval

June 12: Australia v Pakistan, Taunton

June 15: Sri Lanka v Australia, The Oval

June 20: Australia v Bangladesh, Trent Bridge

June 25: England v Australia, Lord's

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE