Lack of depth costs Windies

The lack of depth in the West Indies' playing ranks has come to the fore in this one-day series which Australia has totally dominated.

The Australians hold an unassailable 3-0 lead ahead of the fourth and penultimate match of the series in St Kitts on Friday. Based on the evidence thus far, the Australians are set to complete a series whitewash.

Niggling injuries to star batting trio Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul have not helped the Windies' cause. Gayle and Sarwan are battling groin complaints while Chanderpaul has been hampered by a calf strain.

Selectors have named the trio in a 13-man squad for the final two games and need them to put runs on the board.

The Windies need look no further than their batting display to see why they have struggled to compete with Australia this series.

Only once has a player passed 50 for the Windies while the Australians have compiled five half-centuries and a ton from the opening three games.

Chanderpaul, despite averaging 77, is yet to exert anywhere near the same influence he had during the Test series, while Sarwan has not fired and captain Gayle is not converting his starts into anything significant.

Despite sporting a new-look opening combination, Australia's batsmen are yet to disappoint.

Shaun Marsh and Shane Watson have carried their exemplary IPL form to the Caribbean, and experienced types Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey have also made meaningful contributions.

That a player of David Hussey's ilk is still itching for an ODI debut underlines Australia's batting riches.

With the series already decided, Australian selectors may opt to blood Hussey and give Stuart Clark his first ODI of the tour.

Left-arm spinner Nikita Miller and paceman Kemar Roach are among two of three uncapped Windies players brought in for the final two games.

With Jerome Taylor injured, the Windies are reliant on the raw pace of Fidel Edwards to take early wickets which would then alleviate the pressure from all-rounders Gayle, Darren Sammy and Dwayne Bravo.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Clarke (vc), Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, James Hopes, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, Luke Ronchi, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson, Cameron White.

West Indies:Chris Gayle (c), Xavier Marshall, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Andre Fletcher, Dwayne Bravo, Shawn Findlay, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy, Nikita Miller, Kemar Roach, Daren Powell, Fidel Edwards.