West Indies may be heading into their Test series in Australia as underdogs but one of their greatest players has told the tourists to believe an upset is possible.

The first of a three-Test series starts in Hobart on Thursday with West Indies going into the game after a 2-0 series defeat against Sri Lanka and 10-wicket hammering in their only tour match – against a Cricket Australia XI that featured six first-class debutants.

Curtly Ambrose, who is with the squad as a bowling consultant, says the players should not take notice of the negative press they are receiving.

“We’re going to be focused. We’re not going to worry about what has been said about us not being a good team or not going to compete,” Ambrose said. “When we perform and beat Australia, then the reporters will have to change their tune.

“We played against Australia not so long ago in the Caribbean and even though we lost 2-0 there were moments or periods when we had them on the back foot and had their backs against the wall. And we never really finished them off. So we believe we can compete and not only compete but we believe we can beat them. Not just to compete but to win and being the underdogs, sometimes it’s good to be that way.

“They have to beat us because Australians and cricket in general expect them to steamroll us. So they’re the ones who are under pressure, not us. And we’re going to put up a good show.”