West Indies coach Bennett King expressed surprising confidence on Monday ahead of his squad's tour of Australia, but said beating the world's No. 1 cricket team on its home turf won't be easy.
"The Australians are very good and we are going into their den. We just have to go there and tame them," King said before most of the team departed Barbados for Sydney. "I believe everyone is comfortable."West Indies hasn't won a test series of any significance since India visited the Caribbean three years ago, and it hasn't beaten Australia in a series since 1993.
The Australians, coming off a sweep of a World XI including West Indies stars Brian Lara and Chris Gayle, have held the Frank Worrell Trophy for 10 years.
West Indies will play Queensland in a four-day match on Oct. 27-30, followed by three tests in November at Brisbane, Hobart and Adelaide.
The team will have its full complement of players despite the bitter ongoing contracts dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board and players' association which led to a second-string side touring Sri Lanka in July.
The Australian-born King said the team has put the dispute behind it and was looking forward to competing.
"The camaraderie is there and we just have to keep moving forward and playing together as a unit," he said.
Captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul acknowledged Australia's strength but called the West Indies "a formidable opponent."
"We always have a good team but the performances are what will count," he said. "I am expecting the guys to be focused and put in big efforts."
