Having clean swept the three-match ODI series, Australia will aim to carry on the momentum in as many T20Is against West Indies in the build up to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2020. Australia have won nine matches and lost just one to West Indies in the shortest format. The venue, Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, holds a special place for the likes of Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry as they had clinched the 2010 Women's World T20 title after defeating New Zealand in the final. Meg Lanning and her team are riding on another level of confidence with the form they have built and carried in every game against every opponent. The 2018 World T20 champions are boosted with a solid top-order and potential match finishers. Additionally, Australia have two uncapped players Erin Burns, who debuted in the second ODI against West Indies, and Heather Graham to count on. Both made their way to the national team on the back of brilliant performances against England while playing for Australia A on the sidelines of Ashes as well as in the Women’s Big Bash League last year.The combination of Lanning and Perry had been impressive in the UK during the three-match T20Is. The captain, who became Australia’s leading run-scorer across all formats, entertained with her aggressive 133 not out off 63 balls in the first T20I against England in Chelmsford. Meanwhile, since the promotion of all-rounder Perry in the line-up, she has been stellar with her performances as well. Ashleigh Gardner has lived up to the expectations as she comes out firing whenever the top-order fails to put up a show. She has also gained the trust of her captain, meaning that when senior players are unable to get a breakthrough, Lanning hands the ball to Gardner. Similarly, Georgia Wareham, too, has become the captain’s go-to bowler. West Indies, on the other hand, are solely surviving on their captain Stafanie Taylor’s performances with both bat and ball. The team is in a wounded state after getting whitewashed in the ODIs in their own backyard for the first time since 2003. On paper, the Caribbean side without the presence of destructive batters like Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews seem comparatively weak. However, one should never underestimate their opponent. Senior players like Stacy-Ann King and Afy Fletcher are skilled enough to change the fortunes of their side. Additionally, Britney Cooper as an opener and Chinelle Henry in the middle-order can mix aggression with caution to keep West Indies in the hunt.Will familiarity breed contempt? Can West Indies get back at Australia in a format they are most at home in?
Squads:West Indies: Kyshona Knight, Anisa Mohammed, Stafanie Taylor (c), Natasha McLean (wk), Chinelle Henry, Stacy-Ann King, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Afy Fletcher, Reniece Boyce, Sheneta Grimmond, Karishma Ramharack, Shabika Gajnabi
Australia: Rachael Haynes, Megan Schutt, Alyssa Healy (wk), Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Heather Graham, Georgia Wareham, Erin Burns, Tayla Vlaeminck
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