Windies confident heading Down under

"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 haven’t won a Test series of any significance since India visited the Caribbean three years ago, and they haven’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 October 27-30, followed by three Tests in November at Brisbane, Hobart and Adelaide.

The team will have its full complement of players following a dispute between the regional cricket board and players’ association that led to Lara, Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan missing the last tour of Sri Lanka.

The Australian-born King said the team have put the dispute behind them and were 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," the 31- year-old said. "I am expecting the guys to be focused and put in big efforts." The team left the Caribbean in two groups yesterday from Barbados and Jamaica for Australia via London, England, the West Indies Cricket Board said in a statement. The larger group, of players and officials based in the Eastern Caribbean and headed by team manager Tony Howard assembled in Barbados then departed for London yesterday afternoon. Opening batsman Devon Smith, who was scheduled to join the group in Barbados yesterday, missed his flight out of Grenada and will travel today.

The other batch, made up of players from Jamaica, also departed yesterday on their way to London where they will join the larger party.

Wavell Hinds and Chris Gayle will travel to Australia tomorrow.

Hinds received permission to remain in Jamaica to take care of pre-arranged personal family business.

Gayle only recently returned to Jamaica after participating in the ICC Super Series in Australia and will travel with Hinds. Brian Lara is already in Australia.