If you are thinking of going by the results of the Test series to judge West Indies’ ability to dominate in T20Is, you’re taking the wrong path. Australia learned it the hard way on their last tour here in 2021. It took a 4-1 chastening to remind them that the format is somewhat tailor-made for a side like the Windies. But for how long that can be said for them is up for debate, especially now, when the cohort of players that led them in their golden period is slowly dispersing away from the game.
Andre Russell is the latest of those finding his way out. The two games in Sabina Park will be his last. But West Indies will not have much time to spend relishing the past. They have a T20 World Cup to play, and to do so, they need to prepare a squad, like many of the other sides. They also have a chance to equal scores with Australia in their favourite format.
Of all teams who have qualified for the World Cup next year, Australia, at this point, are one of the least prepared. Since the 2024 T20 World Cup, they have only played eight shortest-format matches, ten fewer than West Indies have played in the same time. They also haven’t had the chance to play much with their full strength. For this series, too, several of their regular players will miss out.
Australia have never defeated West Indies at their home in a T20I series, and have just won two out of eight games they have played in the Caribbean.
Team Overview:
Mitchell Marsh played his debut T20I game in 2011, but it wasn’t until almost a decade later that he scored his first fifty, which he did against West Indies on Australia’s last tour of the Caribbean. It was in that series that he truly got his breakthrough, with three half-centuries coming off his bat. Marsh, along with his fond memories, has a team to lead this time. Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Travis Head will all be away from the team, leaving Marsh and co. to deal with the hosts on their own.
In addition, Matt Short and Spencer Johnson have also been ruled out of the series. And though Tim David is nursing a hamstring injury, which will keep him away from the first game, he should be well enough to return for the second match. Jake Fraser-McGurk, who came in late for Johnson, will open with Marsh, while Cooper Connolly, who has not batted even once in his two-game-old T20I career, will be relied upon to carry the middle-order duties.
As many as seven players from the West Indies squad, including Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, and Jewel Andrew, were with the Global Super League (GSL) winners Guyana Amazon Warriors. These players were flown from Guyana to Jamaica in a private jet to arrive before the game. Shai Hope had a tough start to his captaincy with a series sweep by England. Although a consolation win against Ireland might have undone the damage in some part, Hope has the best chance to boost the side’s morale by pinning Australia here.
Head-to-Head Matches:
Australia and West Indies have 11 wins each in the 22 games that the two teams have played against each other.
Weather and Pitch Report:
Sabina Park has not hosted any white-ball games since May last year, but it’s known to be the best batting surface in the entire region. Early on, there might be some uneven bounce on the surface that would look as if the ball is sticking. However, the strip tends to wear out as the game progresses. That is why teams batting second have enjoyed much success at Sabina Park in white-ball formats.
Prediction:
History doesn’t favour Australia one bit, but form has a different opinion, and this once, the latter might hold sway.
Where to Watch:
West Indies: ESPN, Disney+ Platforms
Australia: Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV
Pakistan: Tapmad
India: Fancode App
UK: TNT Sports Network
South Africa: SuperSport
USA: ESPN+
