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The Frank Worrell Trophy was once on level footing with the Ashes in Australia, but now it is in a battle for relevance.

Steve Waugh once claimed that the Frank Worrell Trophy was more important than the Ashes.

Back in 1995 when Australia announced itself as a genuine Test cricket powerhouse on the tour of the West Indies, Curtly Ambrose was reminding batsmen not to cuss him.

With a team full of household names, crowds for Boxing Day in the late 1990s were regularly bigger to watch West Indies than England.

How the mighty have fallen.

Wednesday's Frank Worrell Trophy opener in Perth is the first Test between the Australia and West Indies in seven years.

It's the kind of gap between matches that would have been unfathomable three decades ago.

The two teams will at least meet again next summer and again in the Caribbean in 2025.

But still, all will only be two-Test tours with this summer's series the shortest Frank Worrell Trophy contested in Australia.

Early indications are Optus Stadium will also be up to three-quarters empty for day one, with a notable lack of signage around the city.

It's the kind of build up an Ashes, Border-Gavaskar Trophy or even Trans-Tasman Trophy would never be given.

"It's hard for me to say (if this Trophy still holds the same value as it used to)," Australia captain Pat Cummins said.

"I haven't played them ever in Test match cricket.

"They are coming back here next summer, so it is good to play them twice in two years."

The question of relevance is no doubt driven by the fall of West Indies, with Australia holders of the trophy since 1995.

This summer will be met with a longing for yesteryear with the likes of Ambrose, Viv Richards, Courtney Walsh and Brian Lara.

A Chanderpaul remains in this side, but this time it is not Shivnarive but his son Tagenarine poised to debut atop the order.

Alzarri Joseph will be the man charged to rough up the hosts with the ball, while Kemar Roach is still one of the world's best bowlers.

Cummins admitted on Tuesday that West Indies had become a hard side to prepare for, given how rarely the two teams now meet.

But in reality, this two-match series is now just part of a bigger chain for Australia.

"With a World Test Championship that's something big to play for," Cummins said.

"We get a few wins here it pretty much guarantees our spot in London.

"The big series, say Ashes or India series where you play four or five Test matches are obviously big battles.

"Whereas the more common series where you play two or three in a series, it gives them a bit more global context and something a bit extra to play for."