Australia Flexes Its Bench Strength and Batting Power

If you thought Australia would get complacent after sealing the T20I series at 3-0, think again. Heading into the fourth match at Basseterre, St. Kitts, the Australian team shuffled its lineup, resting key players like Tim David—who smashed a 37-ball century just a match earlier—and Ben Dwarshius. In came Aaron Hardie and exciting pacer Xavier Bartlett, getting their shot on international turf. The West Indies also made a change, swapping Gudakesh Motie for Matthew Forde, trying to inject new energy into a beleaguered squad.

Australia won the toss and put the West Indies in to bat first. Early on, it seemed like the pressure was on, with the hosts losing wickets at regular intervals. Even so, they managed to post a hefty total—205 for 9 in 20 overs—thanks to some aggressive late-innings batting. Standout bowler Jediah Blades played his part perfectly, grabbing 3 wickets for just 29 runs and keeping the West Indies within reach. But the real story was in the field, where lapses and missed opportunities handed Australia exactly what they needed.

West Indies Struggle, Australia’s Depth Shines

Out in the middle, Australia’s flexible batting lineup stepped up once again. Josh Inglis, who had already impressed in earlier matches, and Cameron Green took charge. Glenn Maxwell added his trademark flair with calculated aggression, making sure that every West Indies mistake turned into valuable runs. The Australians didn’t just rely on one big knock—they rotated the strike, pounced on loose deliveries, and ran hard between the wickets, a clear sign of a side comfortable and confident in all situations.

Earlier in the series, Inglis and Green combined for an effortless eight-wicket win, and Tim David’s explosive century was the stuff of highlight reels. Australia’s bowling attack, even with rotation, never really let West Indies settle in. Andre Russell’s much-anticipated farewell appearance in the second match got lost in the shuffle, his farewell overshadowed by the visitors’ clinical showing. It wasn’t just the losses—West Indies kept finding new ways to gift Australia extra chances, especially in the field. Missed catches and sloppy run-outs summed up their rough run.

• The Australians experimented with squad combinations, showing both depth and adaptability.
• Fielding mishaps continued to plague the West Indies, costing them at crucial junctures.
• Tim David’s century in the third T20I and Josh Inglis’ steady hand have kept Australia on top throughout.

The final match, scheduled for July 28, is now a formality in terms of the series outcome. But with Australia already holding a dominant 4-0 lead, it’s a chance for both teams to test new players and salvage some pride—or reinforce an ongoing cricketing reign.