Australia, West Indies on right path to T20 World Cup glory ICC Men's T20 World Cup, 2026
While Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood remain the first-choice pace trio for Australia in the shortest format, there is plenty of depth waiting in the wings and eager for their chance.
Left-armer Ben Dwarshuis collected three wickets in the series finale against the West Indies to finish with a joint team-high eight scalps for the series, while fellow seamers Nathan Ellis, Sean Abbott, Aaron Hardie and Xavier Bartlett showed enough across the five matches to prove they can step up to the plate at the T20 World Cup if required.
With so many pacers in good form and ready to show their wares on the big stage if called on, it's a good problem for Australia to have heading into the 10th edition of the T20 World Cup.
Ellis finally gets Gulbadin after dropped catch | AFG v AUS | Champions Trophy 2025
Gulbadin gets lucky once but not twice | AFG v AUS | Champions Trophy 2025
With so much unpredictability in the shortest format, it is perhaps Adam Zampa's consistency and ability to perform well in every match that sets him aside from many of his peers.
Zampa became just the fourth Australian men's player to feature in 100 T20I matches for his country on Monday when he took the field in St Kitts and the right-armer produced yet another strong performance with the ball to finish with the tidy figures of 1/20 from three overs.
The difference between Zampa's best and worst games for Australia remains minimal and the leggie can always be relied upon to perform well on the big stage.
With spin set to play a major role in deciding the outcome of next year's T20 World Cup, the exploits of Zampa are sure to be pivotal to Australia's chances.
Having relied upon the likes of Glenn Maxwell for so long, Australia look to have a trio of powerful batters ready to step up and show they can perform on the big stage.
All-rounder Cameron Green amassed 205 runs against the West Indies to finish as the leading run-scorer of the series, while Tim David (132) and Mitch Owen (125) also showed they are capable of taking the next step and becoming regulars in Australia's middle-order.
It bodes well for Australia, who have been crying out for the next batting star in their line-up and now appear to have three players ready to take the next step.
Green loses bat, England lose sight of ball | CWC23
Australia's Cameron Green nearly gave away his wicket while also losing his bat, but England missed the chance despite four fielders converging in on the catch.
There's no doubt the Caribbean side have enough big hitters in their line-up to prosper at the T20 World Cup, with the likes of skipper Shai Hope, Sherfane Rutherford, Brandon King and Shimron Hetmeyer all providing plenty of fireworks with the willow across the five-match series.
Perhaps a different style of batter within the top six could help the balance of West Indies' side, though it's scary to think what is possible for the West Indies if their batting line-up all fire on the same day.
It's crucial for the West Indies that Hope continues to lead from the front and he probably remains the most important batter within their top six ahead of the T20 World Cup.
A hat-trick of sixes from Shai Hope | T20WC 2024
West Indies batter Shai Hope hits three sixes in a row against USA at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024.
While veteran pacer Jason Holder remains a wicket-taker and an ultra consistent performer with the new-ball for the West Indies, the side must get a strong showing from their spinners if they are to add to the two T20 World Cup titles they won in 2012 and 2016.
Left-armer Akeal Hosein was expensive and only managed four wickets across five matches against Australia and will need to be at his best in India, while Gudakesh Motie is also likely to play a major role despite only three appearances against the Aussies.
A career-best performane from Akeal Hosein | POTM Highlights | T20WC 2024
The best figures by a West Indies player in Men's T20 World Cups ICC Men's T20 World Cup, 2026News
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