Lanning expecting stiff challenge in series opener

Australia will break new ground on Thursday when they stride out onto the field for the first one-day international against the West Indies in Antigua.

Australia’s women have never played an ODI in the Caribbean, and this limited-overs series is just the second bilateral contest between the teams to be staged in the region.

The first was a two-Test series in Jamaica back in 1976 and while the Aussies have played in – and won – two T20 World Cups in the Caribbean, history will be made on Thursday at the picturesque Coolidge Cricket Ground, located next to Antigua’s international airport.

Meg Lanning’s world No.1 team go into the three-match series as heavy favourites, having lost just one ODI to the West Indies in the 10 times they’ve faced off in the format, while the hosts are fielding a squad missing four of their frontline players.

But for the first time, Stafanie Taylor’s team will have the home ground advantage against the world’s best and that factor has not been lost on Lanning – particularly as they head into a match at a ground affectionately known as the ‘Sticky Wicket’.

"The West Indies can play some really high class cricket and we’re expecting them to come out and play at their best," Lanning said on the eve of the opening ODI.

"They’ve got world class-players, some of whom we know very well from the WBBL, so we’re not coming into this series and taking the West Indies lightly, we’re expecting a really tough battle and I’m sure that’ll start tomorrow."

While Australia took almost all before them during a dominant women’s Ashes campaign in England in July, the Windies' own away tour of the British Isles could not have gone any differently in June.

There, Taylor’s team failed to win a game and since returning home their fortunes have taken another significant blow, with star allrounder Deandra Dottin was ruled out of the ODIs against Australia after undergoing shoulder surgery, while core squad members Shakera Selman, Chedean Nation and Shemaine Campbelle are also absent due to injury.

But Taylor believes her troops are prepared for the challenge ahead.

"We’re always ready," Taylor said. "We’re the West Indies, there’s never a time we’re not ready.

"(The injuries) is a bit of a concern but it’s also nice for the young players coming through to gain that experience.

"It’s more about us focusing on what we would like to do, instead of focusing too much on the Aussies.

"England was a bit challenging so it’s nice to get away from that and get back here in the Caribbean, (that series) is long gone so we’re not focusing too much on what’s in the past."

While the hosts are battling injury woes, Australia face their own tough decisions at the selection table, albeit for different reasons.

The absence of opener Nicole Bolton from this tour, with the Western Australian ruling herself out to focus on her mental health, will likely see Rachael Haynes promoted from the middle-order in her place, leaving a spot vacant in the XI.

Among the candidates to fill that spot from outside the incumbent XI are Nicola Carey and uncapped pair Erin Burns and Heather Graham, with Lanning confirming a decision on the final side would be made closer to the toss.

"We’ll definitely have another allrounder given the make-up of the squad, but those players can be genuine bats at times," Lanning said.

Australia’s first one-day international against the West Indies will begin at 2pm Thursday local time (4am Friday AEST).

Fans in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea can stream the series live and free on cricket.com.au and the CA Live App, while fans elsewhere can watch on the West Indies Cricket YouTube channel.

CommBank Tour of the West Indies

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Erin Burns, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Heather Graham, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

West Indies ODI squad: Stafanie Taylor (c), Hayley Matthews (vc), Reniece Boyce, Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry, Shamilia Connell, Stacy Ann King, Natasha McLean, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Anisa Mohammed, Karishma Ramharack, Shabika Gajnabi

One-Day Internationals*
*ICC Women's Championship matches

September 5: First ODI, Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua

September 8: Second ODI, Sir Viv Richards Ground, Antigua

September 11: Third ODI, Sir Viv Richards Ground, Antigua

Twenty20 Internationals

September 14: First T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados

September 16: Second T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados

September 18: Third T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados