Justin Langer: Australia’s storylines set exciting backdrop for David v Goliath series with West Indies

David and Goliath.

In this case, the West Indies and Australia starting in Adelaide today.

Australia is littered with senior professionals, including a couple of all-time greats. All are on top of their games. In contrast, the West Indies have a squad of kids, with a sprinkling of players with limited international experience.

The odds are so heavily stacked against the once mighty West Indies that it will take a miracle akin to the baby-faced Cassius Clay (Muhammed Ali) beating Sonny Liston in 1964.

Uneven as the contest looks on paper, the plots and joys of test cricket still have me excited about this two-match series.

Steve Smith opens the batting for the first time in Test cricket. Ric Charlesworth, arguably Australia’s greatest coach, talks about finding ways to challenge your senior players.

They never lose their talent, sometimes they just need to be re-ignited. When the fire of inspiration burns for constant improvement, the best players find ways to get better.

Australia’s greatest player of this generation will soak up the challenge of this next chapter of his career.

The next layer of Smith’s new union with Usman Khawaja is that Cameron Green returns to Australia’s first eleven.

The blueprint of Australian cricket’s historically sustained success is that the most talented young player in the country is selected within a group of senior stars. Green fits this current title.

His inclusion is a dream for captain Pat Cummins and his fast-bowling mates.

Cummins now has Green and Mitch Marsh at his disposal. The joints and muscles of Australia’s ageing fast bowlers will be sighing with relief.

More bowling options will be a welcome relief after a long year. Rarely does any team have two tall fast bowling all-rounders in the one team. Australia on paper is looking tougher by the moment.

This new combination can only be intimidating for the young West indies, who have nothing to lose, everything to gain.

Laconic, and free in their movement, the one thing we can be assured of from the West Indians is a display of talent and athleticism. They will bowl fast, have a crack with the bat and hopefully field with enthusiasm and energy.

There can be no excuses for poor fielding or attitude. Pakistan fell short in this area, especially in their catching.

They will be ruing this from their homes in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. If only we had have taken our catches they will be saying?

Could things have turned out differently? We will never know as Australia continued their winning ways.

Playing Australia at present is like wrestling a giant python, everything must go right for an opponent to have any chance. Five days, even three or four, is a long time to endure the relentless pressure Australia imparts.

The West Indies will know this, as will Australia.

Over the next few days, stories from the Caribbean will inspire the David and Goliath legend. After a long and successful 12 months, Australia will be in no mood to give David a breath of hope. They will be looking for a quick kill here in Adelaide.