West Indies abandoned their initial plans to play a Test match against Australia Women later this month. The decision was taken as Cricket West Indies plans to focus solely on the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be played later this year.
According to initial plans, the West Indies Women vs Australia Women bilateral match was based around all three formats including a Test match. This Test match will be West Indies Women’s first Test match since 2004 and their second since 1979. Since the one-off Test match is no longer in the plans, the series will consist of three T20Is and three ODIs. St Vincent has been scheduled for three T20 matches, and three ODI matches will be arranged in St Kitts.
West Indies Women vs Australia Women Full Schedule:
Three T20Is:
WI-W vs AUS-W 1st T20I: March 19, St Vincent
WI-W vs AUS-W 2nd T20I: March 21, St Vincent
WI-W vs AUS-W 3rd T20I: Match 23, St Vincent
Three ODIs:
WI-W vs AUS-W 1st ODI: March 27, St Kitts
WI-W vs AUS-W 2nd ODI: Match 29, St Kitts
WI-W vs AUS-W 3rd ODI: April 2, St Kitts
Caribbean Cricket Board explained why they left the test match
Recent developments and changes in the plans were finalized in the light of concerns from both sides. The Caribbean Cricket Board confirmed that they will respect his progress in Test cricket as well. But due to the upcoming T20 World Cup, he considered leaving the only Test match of the series. If his future plans remain intact, his women’s cricket team will play a red-ball series against England next year.
“Our planning this year prioritizes maximizing white-ball preparations ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. This series is a central part of that preparation, allowing us to focus resources and form combinations,” Cricket West Indies Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe said.
“We are committed to the long-term growth of women’s Test cricket, and discussions are already underway for future red-ball opportunities, including a highly anticipated series against England in 2027,” she said.
Cricket Australia also came clean
On behalf of Cricket Australia, Peter Roach, head of scheduling and operations, claimed that both boards worked hard to keep the Test match intact. But the prevailing circumstances did not allow it to be a red-ball game in the series.
Roach said, “However, it was also important that this series be played at more than one venue, ensuring the best possible facilities and varying conditions. We are grateful that Cricket West Indies has worked within its constraints to make this happen.”
This series will mark a new era of Australian cricket. They are all set to play white ball matches against West Indies under the leadership of their newly appointed captain Sophie Molineux. This will be the first major assignment for the Australia women’s cricket team after the retirement of great cricketer Alyssa Healy. However, Molineux’s return to the tour has become uncertain due to a back injury. She has been ruled out of India’s remaining multi-format series due to a back injury.
read more: Unforgettable! Mitchell Starc’s reaction to Alyssa Healy’s farewell century goes viral (watch video)
