West Indies after losing the ODI series take on Australia in a three-match T20I series. The first T20I will be played in Hobart on Friday, February 9. All the matches start at 1.30 pm IST.
West Indies will look to come hard in a format that they love playing. All their T20 specialists are back for the three-match series. All of them were busy playing in the ILT20 league. The likes of Andre Russell, Jason Holder, and Nicholas Pooran are back with Rovman Powell leading the side.
The return of the T20I specialists surely strengthens the side. Akeal Hosein and Alzarri Joseph provide the necessary experience to the bowling lineup. Shimron Hetmyer is not a part of the T20I side. The two teams have played 148 ODIs with the Aussies winning 78 matches and West Indies 61. In 19 T20Is, Australia have won 9 games while West Indies 10.
The debate among the players choosing club over country has been an age-old topic in West Indies cricket and the problem lies in many reasons other than cricket. In this article, we take a look at the likely West Indies XI playing XI for the first T20I against Australia.
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West Indies Playing 11 vs Australia, 1st T20I, 2024
Kyle Mayers
Kyle Mayers will open the batting for West Indies. He is a hard-hitter at the top. In 33 T20Is he has scored 614 runs at a strike rate of 137.67. Mayers can also roll his arm over.
Brandon King
King will open the batting with Mayers. He too is a specialist T20 player. He has played 45 T20Is for West Indies scoring 1092 runs with eight fifties.
Nicholas Pooran (WK)
Pooran will slot in at three. He is a destructive batter in the shortest format with a strike rate of 134.95. He recently led the MI Emirates in the ILT20 2024. He is approaching 2000 runs in the format.
Roston Chase
Chase might bat at four. He is someone who can hold the innings together and can also play the anchor role. He can also bowl his off-spin which makes him a quality all-rounder.
Jason Holder
Holder can slot in at five. He opted out of the Test and the ODI series to focus on his T20 game as he is willing to play the T20 World Cup for West Indies. He has scored 429 runs and picked up 63 wickets in 60 T20Is.
Rovman Powell (C)
Powell is the skipper of the side and will bat at six. He bats a bit too low for his liking. He is a hard hitter who can tonk the ball right from the get-go. He can also roll his arm over if required.
Andre Russell
Russell will slot in at seven. He is a specialist finisher in the T20I format. He should join the side ahead of the first T20I. He is currently playing for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20 2024. He is four short of 50 T20I wickets.
Akeal Hosein
Hosein is the specialist spinner. He will bat at seven and bowl his quality left-arm spin. He has picked up 37 wickets in 44 T20Is with a best of 44 with the bat.
Alzarri Joseph
Joseph will lead the pace attack. He is an all-format bowler for West Indies. He has taken 32 wickets in 19 T20Is. He played the Test and the ODI series against Australia as well.
Oshane Thomas
Thomas will pair up with Joseph as the second specialist pacer. He has picked up 21 wickets from 21 T20I matches at an average of 30.38 and an economy close to 10.
Gudakesh Motie
Motie concludes the likely XI for West Indies in the first T20I against Australia. He played in the ODI series as well. He has played just five t20Is so far picking up five wickets.
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