After their dominant, record-breaking win over India at Lord’s, Australia will now face the West Indies in the other semi-final at The Oval on Tuesday, with a place in the final at stake.
A quick turnaround before the semi-finals
Australia had very little time to prepare for the knockout clash. The squad moved from their north London base on Sunday and will have just one training session at The Oval before they face the West Indies.
The conditions at The Oval are expected to be different to those at Lord’s, making that training session important as Australia look to adapt quickly.
Australia has an advantage over the West Indies
Australia will start as clear favourites, especially given their recent record against the West Indies.
They won all six white-ball matches during their Caribbean tour earlier this year. They also beat West Indies in a warm-up match before this World Cup.
However, Australia knows past results won’t matter when the semi-finals begin.
The pain from the previous world championships is still fresh
Despite their dominance, Australia have suffered heartbreak in recent ICC tournaments.
In the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, they reached the semi-finals undefeated but were knocked out by South Africa. They also suffered a shock exit in the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup last year after India completed their record chase.
Those defeats reminded Australia that winning every group game does not guarantee anything in the knockout stages.
West Indies arrive with experienced stars
West Indies had a dramatic run to the semi-finals.
A surprise defeat to Ireland left their qualification hopes hanging in the balance before England confirmed their place in the last four with victory over New Zealand.
Captain Hayley Matthews continues to be the team’s biggest winner with bat and ball, while experienced hosts Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor add valuable experience.
For West Indies to upset Australia, the senior trio are likely to have to produce outstanding performances.
Australia’s depth remains their biggest strength
Australia’s batting has been consistent throughout the tournament, with different players contributing in each game.
Their bowling attack has also adapted well to different conditions, making them one of the most consistent teams in the competition.
With another World Cup final within reach, Australia will be confident. But after two painful semi-final exits at recent ICC events, they know there is no room for complacency.
