International Cricket: Australia vs. West Indies 7/9/21 T20 Cricket Prediction

Australia’s tour of the West Indies starts on Friday July 9^th, 2021 at 7:30pm with the first of two back-to-back matches in the 5-match T20 series being played at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Gros Islet, St. Lucia. The two teams last faced each other in this format in the 2014 edition of the T20 World Cup which West Indies won. With both sides losing their last series, they will be looking to change the tide of their fortune and climb the ICC rankings, Australia is currently in fifth and West Indies are in the eighth spot.

Aaron Finch led Australia are without a few usual faces but they still have a formidable side that can win them matches. Steve Smith along with David Warner will be missing in action however, their batting prowess will not dampen the baggie green lads. Matthew Wade, Alex Carey, Ashton Turner and Josh Philippe will be asked to raise their hand in the batting department alongside the captain (Aaron Finch). The bowling side of the wicket will be led by Josh Hazelwood, Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa with Ashton Agar and Mitchell Marsh in the fold as well. Australia are a team that can chop and change their side to be batting heavy, bowler efficient or an all-rounding XI, their ability to win games with any of the three mentioned are a nightmare for oppositions and their next opponents will definitely be tested.

West Indies usually play some of their best T20 cricket against Australia and with the last series versus South Africa going against the grain of their customary dominance, they will be looking to have a massive bounce back. Keiron Pollard will be asking a lot of his players, namely Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer and Chris Gayle who have all under-performed recently. The bowling unit has seen the rise of a young talent in Obed McCoy with beautiful slower deliveries which proved to be ultra efficient, veteran Dwayne Bravo has been phenomenal as well and you can expect a similar standard in the upcoming series. West Indies will know that this is a great opportunity to pass Afghanistan and South Africa in the T20 rankings once they are able to apply themselves accordingly. This will not be an easy feat to say the least but they are ready for the challenge.

This match is expected to be a very intense battle, between two of the most dynamic teams in T20 cricket. If it was a different format then Australia would be massive favorites, but the West Indies have shown that they can be world beaters in T20’s. Who will put the best foot forward first? Who will crumble at the feet of their opponents? West Indies have played the most recent of matches and will be in a rhythm but I expect Australia to take this first game being the more rested and mentally tougher team.