- July 30, 2025
If there’s one thing we learned from Australia’s 5-0 T20 sweep of West Indies, it’s this: Mitch Marsh’s men are not playing. The T20 World Cup is seven months away, and the Aussies didn’t just beat the Windies; they smashed them. Australia did this whilst missing Travis Head and their renowned pacers, but showed they still possessed some serious power with the bat and ball. Let’s review the six biggest takeaways from this Caribbean cricket fiesta.
Power Game Unlocked: Australia’s Six-Hitting Spree
“Range-hitting” was the catchphrase heading into the series, and boy, did it live up to the hype. Across five matches, Australia hit a staggering 64 sixes – out-hitting a West Indies side that is so recognized for its brute strength. Tim David’s 15 sixes were the standout, but Cameron Green and new-face Mitch Owen were there for the ride with 12 each, which is more than a statement of power; it is a warning sign to the rest of the world.
Marsh summed it up best: “We’ve got a lot of power, so we’re going to hit a lot of sixes.” This wasn’t accidental—it was a game plan executed to perfection. The Aussies have now hit more sixes per ball (every 11.1 deliveries) than any other team in 2024. If six-hitting is the next era, Australia’s already written the first chapter.
Depth That’ll Give Selectors a Headache
Once a revolving door of selections, Australia’s T20 XI now clicks like a well-oiled jukebox blasting winning tunes. Across the 5 games, all 15 squad members played, showcasing the kind of depth that’ll give George Bailey and his selection panel serious migraines. Green’s all-round show was so polished, it could’ve been sold as a limited-edition collector’s item—bats, balls, and brilliance included.
New players like Mitch Owen and Xavier Bartlett did not merely come on board. They contributed. Australia didn’t need its headline acts to put on a blockbuster performance. And with those big names on the way back, the selectors are now spoiled for choice.
Death Bowling: Australia’s Secret Weapon
The Windies may have brought the firepower early in their innings, but when it came to the final overs, Australia slammed the door shut. They took 15 wickets in overs 16-20, with an average strike rate of one every 9.87 balls. That’s elite.
Of the numbers, Nathan Ellis led the list of players who played three matches, with the best economy rate; Sean Abbott and Ben Dwarshuis were also smart. Since the last T20 World Cup, Australia’s death bowling strike rate (every 8.08 balls) is only marginally worse than New Zealand’s. Against the Windies—who were supposed to be at their best at the death—this is no laughing matter. It is an enormous reason why this series appeared to be a one-sided training exercise, rather than a series.
Australia’s mixture of power hitting, bowling variety, and depth, along with their bench strength, is peaking at the right time. Green is in form and performing well, Ellis is controlling the game, and David is leaving a trail of carnage in his wake. In addition to the rest of the hierarchy, the world should be paying attention to the World Cup just around the corner.
But here’s the real question: when the big names return, who cuts? That’s a dilemma most teams would kill to have. One thing’s certain—Australia is no longer just preparing for the World Cup. They’re setting the pace for it.
Which Aussie player do you think is most crucial to their T20 World Cup hopes—and who should make way to fit them in? Let the debate begin.
