West Indies vs Australia: Lewis could give hosts a strong start

The first of five T20 internationals between the West Indies and Australia takes place at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica on Monday (start time, 01:00).

Both teams are building towards next year's T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, and the Windies will be desperate to bounce back from their 3-0 Test series defeat to the Aussies.

Cricket Odds

Evin Lewis top West Indies batter @ 7/2

Team news
West Indies legend Andre Russell will retire from international cricket after the second T20 on his home island of Jamaica. Shai Hope is set to captain, keep wicket and bat at number three while teenage batter Jewel Andrew and fast bowler Jediah Blades are hoping to make their T20 debuts.

Australia opener Matt Short (side) has joined Spencer Johnson (back) on the sidelines and Tim David (hamstring) will be rested for the first T20.

The Aussies have confirmed their line-up for Monday's game with Jake Fraser-McGurk replacing Short at the top of the order and Mitchell Owen, who scored a century in this season's Big Bash final, due to bat at number six on his international debut.

Match Odds, West Indies vs Australia

Australia have won seven of their last eight completed T20s and they are 4/7 to extend that hot streak with a victory over the West Indies, who are 11/8.

The West Indies struck 37 sixes in three T20 internationals against South Africa at Sabina Park in May 2024 and they are 1/1 to hit the most sixes, with Australia 1/1 and the draw 7/1.

Evin Lewis top West Indies batter @ 7/2

The West Indies hope that a change of format improves their batting fortunes after they were skittled for 27 by Australia in the fourth innings of the third Test at Sabina Park.

T20 opener Evin Lewis has far happier memories of the Kingston venue, where he cracked a career-best 125 not out from just 62 balls against India in July 2017.

Lewis looked to be on course for another T20 century in the West Indies' most recent 20-over game before he was dismissed for a 44-ball 91 against Ireland last month.

He has also had success against Australia in this format, hitting nine sixes in a whirlwind innings of 79 from 34 deliveries in St Lucia in 2021, and he can lead the Windies' charge with the bat.

Mitchell Marsh to score over 24.5 runs @ 5/6

Australia's T20 captain Mitchell Marsh had a terrific IPL campaign for Lucknow Super Giants this year and he should be backed to score at least 25 runs in the series opener.

Only three players in the IPL hit more sixes than Marsh's 37 in 13 innings and his final three scores of the campaign were 65, 117 and 67.

The Aussie opener made 51, 54, nine, 75 and 30 in five T20s against the West Indies in July 2021 and he looks primed for another successful trip to the Caribbean.

Cricket Betting Tips from Betfred Insights.