Hayley Matthews-led side to face top-ranked Australia in three-match T20I series in Kingstown ahead of the T20 World Cup

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West Indies have announced an unchanged squad for the upcoming home T20I series against Australia women’s national cricket team following their recent 2-0 series loss to Sri Lanka women’s national cricket team. The series will mark the first international meeting between the two teams since October 2023.

The squad, led by captain Hayley Matthews, will take on the world’s No. 1-ranked side at Arnos Vale Cricket Ground in Kingstown, where all three T20Is will be played. The team combines experienced campaigners such as Stafanie Taylor, Shemaine Campbelle and Deandra Dottin with emerging talents including teenagers Eboni Brathwaite and Jahzara Claxton.

The series will play an important role in West Indies’ preparations for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup scheduled to take place in the United Kingdom in June.

Head coach Shane Deitz said the team is eager for the challenge of facing the best side in world cricket.

“We’re really excited about the opportunity to play the number one ranked ODI and T20 team in the world,” Deitz said. “With the World Cup approaching, this series will give us a good indication of where we stand in our preparation. Playing against the best team helps us identify areas that need improvement and the aspects of our game that are working well.”

He added that the players are motivated to show their progress since their last meeting with Australia in 2023.

“It’s going to be a very tough series, but the players are ready for the challenge. We haven’t faced them in a competitive match since October 2023, so it will be a great opportunity to assess how much the team has improved and what we still need to work on ahead of the World Cup in England.”

The first T20I will be played on March 19, followed by the second and third matches on March 21 and March 23 respectively. After the T20I series, the two sides will also contest a three-match ODI series at Warner Park in St. Kitts and Nevis.

The tour was initially expected to include a Test match, but it was eventually dropped as the hosts decided to focus on white-ball preparations leading into the global tournament.

West Indies Women T20I Squad

Hayley Matthews (captain), Chinelle Henry, Aaliyah Alleyne, Eboni Brathwaite, Shemaine Campbelle, Jahzara Claxton, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Jannillea Glasgow, Shawnisha Hector, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor.