Tough lessons to benefit Windies in the long run: Garth

Kim Garth has first-hand knowledge of what it's like to be handed a shellacking by a global powerhouse, and Australia's player of the match in the first ODI against West Indies insists such contests are the only way to "bridge the so-called 'gap'".

Garth was part of the Ireland side that conceded 3-440 against New Zealand back in 2018, with the 27-year-old having switched allegiances in the intervening years before making her Australia debut in the T20 format last December.

Having experienced life as part of both an associate nation and a World Cup winning behemoth, she understands the challenges West Indies faced – minus their best player, Hayley Matthews – in coming up against Australia at Allan Border Field in Brisbane on Sunday.

The visitors were skittled for 83 in 27.3 overs, then watched as Australia surged to their target inside 15 overs to complete a particularly lopsided ODI series opener.

"They're a young side and they're learning on the job, and what better way to do it than against one of the top sides in the world," Garth said. "I think it's great that we're playing against all the top 10 nations with this new ICC format … there may be some games where it appears there's a big gap, but I think the only way to fix that gap is by playing these types of games, against everyone.

"I've been on the opposite end of it when playing for Ireland plenty of times, and I think the only way to bridge the so-called 'gap' is to keep playing games of cricket."

Garth found movement both in the air and off the seam and used it to great effect to help Australia scythe through their opposition, claiming 3-8 from 5.3 overs – her best figures for Australia in any format.

West Indies coach Shane Deitz was impressed with the Australian pace attack in helpful conditions and reiterated Garth's sentiment that his side would only improve by being given opportunities to take on and learn from the best players in the world.

"We sent some youngsters out to give them some opportunity," Deitz said. "They did their best – they're learning international cricket and they've got a lot to learn. When you have a loss, it's a great opportunity to learn more.

"I know the result looked really, really bad but we're here to learn – especially these youngsters – in these conditions against the world's best, so it's a perfect opportunity and then the next time we come here we'll be better prepared for these conditions, with these younger players a bit older."

Deitz said Matthews was close to playing game one and he remains hopeful she will be fit for game two at Junction Oval on Thursday, while Australia have a fitness concern in Darcie Brown, who exited the field with a tight left hamstring and will be assessed in coming days.

Garth meanwhile said that despite her Australia-best performance, she had already identified areas for improvement.

"If I'm being ultra-critical, I've felt better," she said. "I probably left the stumps a little bit too much and would've liked to have been a little bit more disciplined than what I was … full credit to Megan Schutt down the other end, she did a lot of the hard work bowling into the wind, so delighted with how we bowled as a unit."

CommBank ODIs v West Indies 2023

First ODI: Australia won by eight wickets

Second ODI: October 12, Junction Oval, 10.05am AEDT

First ODI: October 14, Junction Oval, 10.05am AEDT

Australia squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham

West Indies squad: Hayley Matthews (c), Shemaine Campbelle (vc), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Chinelle Henry, Zaida James, Djenaba Joseph, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams