Australia's team leaders are looking beyond recent statistics and talking up the West Indies as they prepare to hit the Caribbean with a bevy of new Test cricket tourists.
With Australia playing their first Test on foreign soil in two years, Ricky Ponting will be just one of four squad members to have previously toured the West Indies.
The squad of 15 contains six players who have never experienced a Test outside Australia, while opening batsman Phil Jaques has just one match in Bangladesh.
Ponting felt the smattering of newer players, which includes a quartet of uncapped Test representatives in pacemen Doug Bollinger and Ashley Noffke, spinner Beau Casson and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, would give the new look team a chance to forge their own identity.
The other two players to have never played a Test away from home are Queensland paceman Mitchell Johnson and Victorian batsman Brad Hodge.
"A lot of those guys without playing Test cricket away from home have still got a lot of international experience under their belts," Ponting said.
"I've sung Mitchell Johnson's praises right through the summer, I think he's improving game after game and I think even up at the camp this week, he's been very much a handful for all of us batsmen that have had to face him up in the nets in Brisbane.
"I'm looking forward to him just keeping developing as a player. Phil Jaques has only played one Test overseas as well and Beau Casson making his first trip with the team at some stage might get an opportunity over there, so there is a bit of excitement around the group.
"It's a really good time in my career to have some of these younger guys coming into the side now."
Ponting remained wary of the West Indies despite their recent atrocious Test record.
They have lost nine and drawn two of their last 11 Test series since beating Bangladesh in 2004.
"I think of late they probably have played a little bit better and I think they are starting to turn things around," Ponting said.
Both Ponting and vice captain Michael Hussey felt the West Indies bowling attack had definitely improved.
Ponting has averaged 98 in five previous Tests in the West Indies, but said he expected the wickets this time could be a little different.
He was optimistic of a return to form after a recent lean trot.
"Last year for me was a little bit different to what I've been used to for the last six or seven years," Ponting said.
"It was one of those years where I had a few high moments but the majority of it were pretty low scores.
"What I've prided myself on the last few years is being consistent and that was missing last year, so it's up to me to get that back again."
He enjoyed his recent stint in the Indian Premier League competition and felt the Twenty20 concept in general had a lot to offer the game and was attracting new audiences.
Ponting said he wasn't worried at having just one practice match to adjust to first class cricket, as some of the West Indies players wouldn't even have that as they were still playing in the IPL.
The Australian skipper had no doubt Hodge, who has been called up to replace Michael Clarke until Clarke is available for the series, would acquit himself well if called upon in the Test.
