West Indies vs Australia 2025: 1st T20 Preview & Betting Tips

The five-match T20I series begins on Monday morning as the West Indies will look to bounce back from a horror showing in the Test series. Australia are fielding a very young side as they look to build towards next year’s T20I World Cup, in what should be an interesting series. The venue is Sabina Park, Jamaica, and action gets underway at 10am on Monday, July 21st. 

Check out our preview and betting tips for the 1st T20I clash below, with odds thanks to Dabble!

West Indies vs Australia 1st T20I Preview & Betting Tips

Time To Bounce Back for the West Indies

Squad: Shai Hope, Jewel Andrew, Jediah Blades, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde (Game 3-5), Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell (Game 1 & 2), Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd 

After an abysmal performance in the final Test at Sabina Park, the West Indies will return to the scene of the crime, this time in colours, looking to bounce back against the Australians. The West Indies bring a strong squad to this series featuring Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph and Andre Russell. Russell will retire from international cricket after game two, so the home side will be eager to send him off on a high. 

Surprisingly the Windies have struggled in T20I cricket in recent times, losing 11 of their last 14 games dating back to October 2024. They’ve lost four of their last five T20I series, with their only victory coming against Ireland in June. Despite this they will come into this series confident that they can turn things around against an inexperienced Australian side.  

The spin duo of Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein loom as a key factor for the West Indies in this series. Motie took the most wickets for the West Indies in T20I cricket last year, with 26 wickets with an economy rate of only 7.51. Hosein wasn’t far behind with 24 wickets with an economy rate of just 6.90. These two star spinners have a big opportunity to strangle Australia through the middle overs. 

A New Era for Australia

Squad: Mitchell Marsh, Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshius, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitch Owen, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa 

After failing to reach the Semi Finals of the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean last year, there has been a reasonable deal of change as Australia looks to find its best mix for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Only seven members of Australia’s squad at last year’s World Cup feature in the sixteen man squad (Marsh, Green, Zampa, David, Maxwell, Inglis, Ellis). 

After a breakout BBL campaign last summer, Mitchell Owen has earned his maiden international call up, while Matt Kuhnemann is also in line for a T20I debut if selected during the series. 

Australia had an excellent 2024 in T20I cricket, winning 17 of their 20 fixtures. Australia had series wins over the West Indies, New Zealand, Scotland and Pakistan, while drawing against England. Australia has improved significantly in the shortest format since focusing on picking more T20 specialist players, however this inexperienced squad faces a big challenge against a West Indies side that is stacked with T20 experience.  

West Indies vs Australia Tip

Australia haven’t played any T20I fixtures in 2025, so although the West Indies haven’t been in winning form, they’ll have a lot more continuity to go with their vastly more experienced side. The West Indies have certainly had Australia’s number when it comes to T20 matches in the Caribbean, winning five of their last six matches at home against the Aussies, including a 4-1 series smashing back in 2021.  

Batting conditions were tough under lights during the Test match last week, even though they won’t be playing with the pink ball which caused chaos, it still won’t be the typical conditions Australia are used to. The West Indies power hitters of Andre Russell, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer and Evin Lewis will be crucial as the West Indies look to go large in the middle and back overs of the innings. The West Indies will be too strong as the inexperienced Australians adjust to the conditions. 

West Indies vs Australia Prop Bet

Evin Lewis has stood up despite his side struggling in T20 Internationals over the past year. Lewis has scored 139 runs at an average of 34 with a strike rate of 187 in 2025. Lewis was excellent in the last series against Australia in the Caribbean, scoring 110 runs at 36 with a strike rate of 220 in just three matches.