WI vs AUS Preview | Windies stare at post-Pooran and Rusell era as World Cup prep begins in full swing

Last Friday at 4:27 PM

Mitchell Marsh's quest to lead Australia into a second World Cup as captain begins at Sabina Park against West Indies on July 21

After eight months away from the shortest format of the game, Australia will return to the T20 scene on Monday at Sabina Park in Kingston to begin a five-match series against the West Indies. Both teams will have an eye on the T20 World Cup next year, with several key members retired or due to.

After busy Test schedules, Australia and West Indies will be keen to dip back into the T20 pool with the next mega event just months away in India and Sri Lanka. While the Men from Down Under are slated to play 17 T20Is in this time period, the Windies would be kept even more busy with this five-match affair kickstarting a 22-match saga. The gametime is much needed though, given how Australia are yet to play a T20I in 2025 while the Windies' tally only reads four, and have been dealt with major news in recent times.

Australia have to deal with the retirement of Matthew Wade, a longstay in their middle-order and the preferred wicket-keeping choice for at least half a decade, but have Josh Inglis waiting in the wings. With Marcus Stoinis also unavailable for the series and the second spinner's spot suddenly a burning question given the locale of the World Cup, both Mitchell Owen and Matt Kuhnemann would be eyeing debut T20I appearances. The entire pace-bowling big three has also been rested, opening the doors for the likes of Ben Dwarshius and Sean Abbott to prove their credentials alongside the already established Nathan Ellis. At least in Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, and Tim David, the side at least has some of its spine intact that has guided them in their last two World Cup campaigns.

Windies, meanwhile, have even bigger headaches after Nicholas Pooran abruptly announced his retirement a few weeks ago and Andre Rusell doubled down by stating he only has two more T20Is left in his tank. However, in Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein, they have two experienced spin campaigners with a great body of work in the island nations, as well as a slew of all-rounders to fall back with the ball on that double down as destructive hitters through the middle-order. If Evin Lewis and Brandon King manage to get their act right at the top of the order, West Indies still hold the potential to be the most brutal team on the international scene, esepcially at home.

Form Guide

West Indies have been undergoing one of their worst streaks in history, having won just won two of their last 16 T20Is while enduring 3-0 whitewashes against England and the lower-ranked Bangladesh. However, they will enter the series with at least some positive momentum courtesy a 1-0 win in Ireland in a three-match rain-marred affair.

Australia managed to clean sweep Pakistan at home 3-0 the last time they played T20Is, in November 2024. Before that, the side had managed to draw 1-1 against England after the third match at Old Trafford was washed out.

WI: W A A L L

AUS: W W W A L

WI vs AUS Head-to-Head in T20Is

While the overall head-to-head record between Australia and West Indies is equally split at 11 each, the Men from Down Under have by far been the more dominant outfit in recent times. The Aussies have won six of their last eight encounters, albeit five of those matches have come at home. However, they are still to win a T20I series in the Caribbean, having lost 4-1 the last time they toured in 2021.

WI 11-11 AUS

Pitch and Weather

The Sabina Park is set for its day/night white-ball T20I, having recently hosted its first ever game under floodlights in the form of a historic pink-ball Test. While the Dukes on that particular occassion saw the Windies bowled out for 27 in a match dominated by bowlers, the surface for the T20I is expected to have lesser grass covering and the white Kookaburra should not prove to be as potent as well.

There are rains forecast for early in the evening and thunderstorms are expected during the game too. However, the radar reads clearer for later in the evening, so at least some action should be possible.

Team News

Andre Rusell would be playing his penultimate T20I on Sunday with Shai Hope continuing to lead. As always, the Caribbean outfit will be all-rounder heavy backed by spin twins Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie, and the out-and-out quick Alzarri Joseph.

Australia, meanwhile, are likely to hand Mitchell Owen a debut albeit the all-rounder might have to contend with a middle-order spot despite bursting onto the scene as an opener in the Big Bash League. Josh Inglis will continue to keep gloves in a new-look middle-order without Matthew Wade or Marcus Stoinis, while Matt Kuhmemann is set for a T20I cap as well having already played multiple games in the other two formats.

West Indies Probable XI: Evin Lewis, Brandon King, Shai Hope (c/wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Andre Russell, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie

Australia Probable XI: Mitchell Marsh (c), Matthew Short, Josh Inglis (wk), Mitchell Owen, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Ben Dwarshius, Matt Kuhnemann, Adam Zampa