Test match dropped from West Indies/Australia women’s series

The Australia women’s tour of West Indies later this month will no longer include a Test match with the hosts wanting to prioritise white-ball cricket ahead of the T20 World Cup later this year.

The initial schedule for the trip was to include West Indies’ first Test since 2004, and only their second since 1979, but the tour will now comprise three T20Is in St Vincent (March 19, 21 and 23) and three ODIs in St Kitts (March 27, 29 and April 2).

“Our planning this year prioritises maximising white-ball readiness ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup,” Miles Bascombe, Cricket West Indies’ director of cricket, said. “This series forms a central part of that preparation, allowing us to concentrate resources and build combinations.

“We remain committed to the long-term growth of women’s Test cricket, and discussions are already underway for a future red-ball opportunity, including a highly anticipated series against England in 2027.”

Cricket Australia’s head of scheduling and operations, Peter Roach, said that both boards had “pursued every reasonable course” to retain the Test.

“However, it was also important that this series be played in more than one venue ensuring the best possible facilities and varying conditions,” Roach said. “We’re grateful Cricket West Indies has worked within their constraints to make this happen.

“CA continues to support women’s Test cricket while acknowledging the differing circumstances in some member nations and their desire to play and promote T20 cricket as they grow the women’s game.”

The tour is set to mark the full new era for Australia under the captaincy of Sophie Molineux after she took over the T20I side against India recently before handing back to Alyssa Healy for the final part of her international career which concludes with a Test in Perth. However, Molineux has been ruled out of the remainder of the India multi-format series with a back injury which could leave her in doubt for the tour.

The ODI leg will be Australia’s first matches in the new cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship which decides qualification for the 2029 ODI World Cup with the current series against India not included.

West Indies are currently hosting Sri Lanka in Grenada where they lost the ODI series 2-1 and were bowled out for 49 in the first T20I before rained forced a no result. (ESPNcricinfo)