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The flanelled knights have not been in royal form of late. And Caribbean passion of late has been fuelled by pain.

But surveying the scene at the Queen's Park Oval this week, bard David Rudder, who composed the new cricket anthem, was probably thinking higher thoughts.

And this morning when the men with the maroon caps take to the Oval field for the start of the 1999 Cable and Wireless Test series, he and the other anxious watchers will be viewing with hope and expectation.

Having been whitewashed 5-0 by one of the pretenders to the throne, South Africa, Brian Lara's men will now attempt to stop the world champion Australians.

But more than a win in the four-Test series and the Sir Frank Worrell trophy is at stake; more than Lara's uncertain hold on the West Indies captaincy is hanging in the balance.

The fight for him and the ten others that play today is to save the soul of West Indies cricket. A clarion call came from Chairman of the West Indies Selectors, Michael Findlay, when he announced the First Test 15 on Monday.

``It is essential at this time for us as West Indians to bury the ghosts of our most recent cricket past and as a region throw our weight behind the West Indies team.''

But it is going to take much more than Lloyd's expectations-even supported by the experience and expertise of psychologist Dr Rudi Webster-to give the Windies round one.

In the baggy green corner, Steve Waugh's Australians are fit and in form. Witness this week's comprehensive innings and six-run demolition of the President's XI at Guaracara Park.

In a middle order that did not score particularly heavily, Mark Waugh's impressive century was a warning. Brother Steve, a veteran of 111 Tests, is leading his country for the first time in a series and he seems likely to field the same 11 skilful, hardened professionals that whipped the President's XI.

But in the maroon corner, the home team, in flux, is far from fully fit.

Lara, struggling with a wrist injury that sidelined him towards the end of the One-day series in South Africa, is the only batsman who played in the Tests who will face the music today.

And while ageing Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose-with 190 Tests and 747 wickets between them-are expected to spearhead the bowling yet again, greater responsibility may be placed on the young brigade because of their increasing proneness to injury.

Of the four other quickies in the squad of 15 vying for the other two spots, the 22-year-old Barbadian left-armer Pedro Collins got the edge over his countryman Corey Collymore and home boy Mervyn Dillon ahead of Guyanese rival Reon King despite the latter's five second innings wickets last weekend.

But it is batting that has been the Achilles heel of the Caribbean team in South Africa and the task of toughening up this weakness falls initially to another new opening pair, the recalled Sherwin Campbell partnered by debutant Suruj Ragoonath.

Captain Lara will be hoping that for his side that has not managed a total of over 300 in their last five Tests, these two can at least build a platform against Glenn McGrath and whoever he has for company with the new ball.

Countering the likely leg-spin combo of Stuart MacGill and Shane Warne, who bagged 17 wickets between them last weekend is another task. And all the President's XI men looked ill at ease against the newcomer.

But positive, hard-hitting Joseph makes his debut in a line-up that includes Jimmy Adams and Roland Holder, who is a very competent player of spin.

And Lara, both as captain and key batsman, will have to give the lead, particularly as he is playing in conditions with which he is very familiar. Also playing on all minds will be the memory of the success of Richie Richardson's side which won the Test here four years ago by nine wickets inside three days.

``I know the fast bowlers-Ambrose, Walsh-relish the conditions there and we are looking for a good start to this series,'' Lara said.

But when Lara goes out to toss with Waugh this morning, the top of the new strip is not likely to be green in spite of frequent showers. And solid batting is likely to be as much a factor in the outcome as telling pace or tricky spin.

But with everything to prove, the WI captain is hoping for some home help.

``For me, in front of my home crowd, I think it will give me the extra edge that I need.''

And if the Prince can raise his fallen star, there will be no need for King David to rally the masses again.

Teams

West Indies: S.Campbell, S.Ragoonath, R.Holder, B.Lara (Capt.), D.Joseph, J.Adams, R.Jacobs, C.Ambrose, M.Dillon, P.Collins, C.Walsh. 12th man P.Simmons.

Australia (from): S.Waugh, M.Waugh, M.Slater, J.Langer, I.Healy, G.Blewett, S.Warne (V/capt), S.MacGill, G.McGrath, J.Gillespie, A.Dale, M.Bevan, M.Elliott, A.Bichel, R.Ponting.