Cricket fever is sweeping across the mountainous island nation of Dominica and Michael Clarke’s Australian team will feel its heat.

The country is hosting just the second Test match to be played at impressive Windsor Park in Roseau – Australia’s third Test against the West Indies (from Monday 2400AEST).

The refurbished ground, a $US17 million present from the Chinese government, became the newest Test ground in the Caribbean last year when the Windies took on India at the venue amid huge excitement.

And now Australia’s visit has got tongues wagging across the nation.

Customs officials stop Australians who enter the country to talk about the cricket. Enthusiastic taxi drivers extol the virtues of Darren Sammy’s Windies team on the 90-minute ride through rainforest-clad hillsides from the airport. All over there’s a buzz of anticipation.

A bumper crowd was anticipated at the 12,000-capacity venue for the first day’s play despite the country’s total population being only just in excess of 70,000.

Sammy said his team’s last visit to Dominica had been a special experience with the team getting a standing ovation despite only drawing the Test against India.

The St Lucian was hopeful similar support would help his team to level the series with a win.

“It was not just the whole eleven out there, the whole crowd, the Dominican public, were there cheering every run, cheering every wicket,” said Sammy.

“We want to win here … if we drew last year and got that ovation, can’t wait to see what will happen if we win.”