If the West Indies crumble against a full-strength Australian side, the narrative will inevitably shift to the future of Test cricket and the demise of a collection of Caribbean islands that once ruled the game.

Can Australia’s fast bowlers back up for another two Tests?

Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc played all three Tests against Pakistan, alongside spinner Nathan Lyon.

After a big year across multiple formats, including an Ashes series and a World Cup, the coaching and medical staff must take credit for having all four bowlers firing at the start of the summer.

It’s rare for a bowling quartet to play every game throughout summer. Cummins, for example, missed the Adelaide Test against the West Indies in 2022 with a quad strain.

There is debate about whether the four can get through another two Tests against the West Indies and back up for the New Zealand tour.

Cummins said the three fast bowlers pulled up well after the final Test against Pakistan in Sydney, and coach Andrew McDonald hinted that an unchanged attack would play in Adelaide.

“There’s nothing to indicate that they’ll need a rest,” McDonald said after Australia’s eight-wicket win at the SCG. “So we’ve got a little bit of a gap to the first West Indies Test match. So I could see pretty much an unchanged bowling line-up for Adelaide.”

Will Warner’s replacement cash in when he gets a chance?

Whoever gets the nod to fill the spot left by David Warner’s retirement at the top of the order will not get a better opportunity to cement his position.

The stats suggest runs come easily against a visiting West Indies side, with not one of the nine batsmen to have opened against them in Australia since the start of 2000 averaging below 44.

Mike Hussey (66) and Simon Katich (60.40) are at the top of the list, while Warner (46.85) and Usman Khawaja (44.5) have also had healthy returns when opening against the West Indies at home.

Given the inexperience of the West Indies quicks and the favourable batting pitches, there will be high expectations of whoever comes in for Warner, whether it’s Cameron Green or Steve Smith.

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has already made the call that Smith could one day go past Brian Lara’s world record score of 400 if he shifts up the order.

Hussey (137) holds the record for the highest score by an Australian opening batsman in Tests against the West Indies in Australia. Smith’s best score against the West Indies is the 200 not out he made in Perth in 2022.

Can Travis Head get back to his best?

There are few weaknesses in this Australian side but the one player who will not have been happy with his performances against Pakistan is Travis Head.

Head made 81 runs from five innings at 16.2, well below his Test average of 43.26.

Last summer, Head scored 99, 175 and 38 not out against the West Indies, and he averages 20 more runs on Australian soil compared to when he is abroad.

He has not made a Test century in 16 innings since his 163 in the World Test Championship final against India in June. It is his longest run without reaching triple figures since his debut in 2018.

There is no pressure on Head’s spot but he will be eager for a big score on what should be favourable batting tracks.

Will Kemar Roach fire a shot?

Most Australian fans won’t recognise many names on the West Indies team sheet, but Kemar Roach will ring plenty of bells.

The 35-year-old sits fifth on the all-time West Indies wicket-takers list with 265 scalps at 27.78.

He can send them down at close to 150km/h but he isn’t the bowler he once was. Roach had an underwhelming 2023, taking 12 wickets from five Tests at 39.83, and he averages 90 with the ball in Australia.

The Windies need Roach and skipper Kraigg Brathwaite in form to be any chance of getting their hands on the Frank Worrell Trophy for the first time since early 1995.