West Indies Women vs Australia Women, 2nd ODI, North Sound: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

Having faced the full force of Australia’s world-beaters in their opening ICC Women’s Championship ODI, West Indies face the unenviable task of fronting up to the dominators again. At the outset, there isn’t much hope for the home side.

Australia last tasted defeat in 2017, when they lost to England in the women’s Ashes. In the re-run of that series earlier this year, Australia exacted revenge in the most uncompromising manner. To put in perspective how daunting an opposition they are, consider the fact that that England side, whose spine was broken in the multi-format Ashes this year, is Australia’s closest challenger as per the IWC points table.

Australia lead the table with 24 points, same as England. But they have played a full 5 matches fewer than the second placed side. And what of West Indies? They’re languishing second from bottom, having suffered 10 losses in 16 matches.

For the record, Australia won that first ODI by a mammoth 178 runs. Centuries from Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning rendered meaningless the first-ball duck of opener Rachel Haynes, and Ellyse Perry then set to work against the home side returning 3/17 in 5 overs as they were bundled out for 130 – in itself thanks to Stafanie Taylor’s 70.

The home side haven’t been helped by the fact that their star all-rounder, Hayley Matthews, had to be withdraw from the squad two hours before the start of the series for disciplinary reasons. She isn’t expected to take part in the whole series, and that’s a shame, given West Indies could desperately use her copious skills.

Be that as it may, they will now have to forget what happened at Coolidge, brush themselves off and go again. It’s important to remember the Australians are playing the same game as they are, and that they can be beaten. They hold the home advantage. They know the conditions better than the opposition. They have to make it count.

Head to head

The victory at Coolidge was Australia’s 10th over West Indies… in 11 matches. It’s been an utterly one-sided rivalry, so far, and given the only time West Indies defeated Australia was in 2013, during the Women’s World Cup in India, there isn’t much hope for the home side come matchday.

Key players

Stafanie Taylor (West Indies): The star West Indies captain and all-rounder was the sole resistor during the Australian assault at Coolidge, and though her 70 went in vain, she will have to rally the troops again and lead from the front. She can be an unstoppable force on her day, and the time is now to give Australia a taste of that.

Meg Lanning (Australia): Australia is so full of stars, it’s difficult to pick one key player. That said, their captain Meg Lanning is the engine of the team. She keeps the unit functioning, and her own performance usually sets the tone for the rest of the team. West Indies need to find a way to break her early.

Likely XIs

West Indies: Natasha McLean, Stacy-Ann King, Stafanie Taylor (c), Kyshona A Knight, Reniece Boyce (wk), Chinelle Henry, Afy Fletcher, Shabika Gajnabi, Anisa Mohammed, Shamilla Connell, Kycia A Knight

Australia: Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy (wk), Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Jess Jonassen, Nicola Carey, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck

Prediction

Australia are an unstoppable force and an immovable object rolled into one – West Indies will stand no chance.