One-time wicket-taking world record-holder Walsh believes the West Indies can surprise by winning a Test in Australia, something they haven't done since February 1997.

"Definitely, I think the way they've started (the tour) would have given them a lot of confidence," Walsh said Tuesday.

"It's the first time this team has played together in about two or three tours because of politics (over sponsorship).

"These guys have a chance to gel here, and I'm sure that they're going to play some good consistent cricket. They're up against the best team. It's going to be hard but if you want to make a mark you've got to play against the best."

Holding, another former West Indies great, disagrees and forecasts the Caribbean tourists will be drubbed 3-0 by Ricky Ponting's side, determined to prove they are still world cricket's top team after losing the Ashes to England last September.

"People don't like to hear the truth, but this group does not possess the right attitude to win Test matches," Holding said this week.

"I'm concerned about their general focus. They aren't focused on their game enough. They aren't focused on representing the Windies enough."

The Windies are the last touring team to win a series in Australia, winning 2-1 in 1992-93, but they were spanked 5-0 by the Australians on their last visit down under in 2000-01.

The one-time powerhouses of world cricket have fallen on hard times and are looking to recapture lost glories under the coaching of Australian Bennett King, who went to the Caribbean last year with the pedigree of coaching Queensland and the Australian Cricket Academy.

"I think you'll see a change in their fortunes sometime, but certainly it's quite young in their development," King said this week.

The Windies had the better of Queensland in the warm-up four-day tour match here last weekend.

Marlon Samuels was the stand-out with his highest first-class score of 257 and best return of five wickets with his off-spinners.

The Caribbean tourists have brought along an armoury of hostile quicks, led by Jermaine Lawson (50 wickets in 12 Tests at 27.84), Fidel Edwards (45 wickets in 17 Tests) and Tino Best (26 wickets in 12 Tests).

Walsh likes what he sees in 23-year-old Edwards from Barbados.

"He could be a handful if he can get things right," Walsh said. "He swings the ball away and he's got some good pace."

Australia will have a Test debutant this week when Mike Hussey opens the innings with Matthew Hayden, after Justin Langer succumbed to a broken rib.

No Australian has made more first-class runs (15,313 runs at 52.8) before making their Test debut.

The 30-year-old left-hander has also scored 494 runs at 123.50 in 18 one-day internationals, and averaged 55.46 in Australia's Sheffield Shield last season.

"I've been through heaps and all the enjoyable hard work is worth it in the long run," Hussey said Tuesday.

"I've been dreaming about this since I was a little kid and hopefully it will all sink in once I've been presented with that baggy green cap."

TEAMS
AUSTRALIA (from): Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Watson, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Glenn McGrath, Stuart MacGill.
WEST INDIES (from): Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chander-paul (captain), Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Dinesh Ramdin, Tino Best, Daren Powell, Fidel Edwards, Jermaine Lawson, Corey Collymore.
Umpires: Ian Howell (South Africa) Rudi Koertzen (South Africa)