Australia, West Indies on right path to T20 World Cup glory

By Jonathan Healy

Australia wrapped up their T20I series in the West Indies with another clinical victory on Monday and both sides can look forward to next year's ICC Men's T20 World Cup with plenty of optimism.

With a little more than six months until the start of the next edition of the T20 World Cup, teams are starting to finetune their preparation for the 20-over showcase in India in 2026 and Australia and West Indies showed good signs despite the one-sided scoreline.

We take a look at five talking points to arise from Australia's series triumph over the West Indies and what it could mean for the sides at next year's T20 World Cup.

Back-up quicks ready to step up for Australia

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.

Zampa a modern-day marvel

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.

New breed look primed for Aussies

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.

West Indies have the batting firepower

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.

Spin to win for West Indies in India?

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.