Few observers of women’s cricket would bet against Australia in the T20 World Cup semi-final. The statistics tell a stark story: the West Indies have secured only two victories in 19 encounters with the Australians. While one of those wins was the historic 2016 T20 World Cup final, captain Hayley Matthews notes that the game has evolved significantly in the decade since.
Matthews, who was a teenager during that 2016 triumph—scoring a pivotal 66 off 45 balls to lift the trophy—is well aware of the current perceptions. Despite reaching three T20 World Cup semi-finals and one ODI semi-final since then, the team is often viewed as unlikely contenders. “When we step onto that field, everyone’s expecting us not to win,” Matthews admitted, her expression shifting from resignation to steely determination.
“There is a sense of loving to prove people wrong, while knowing that we have to prove ourselves over and over,” she added. “That drives a lot of our players; we use it as fuel to play harder and prove our worth every single time.”
Matthews acknowledged that recent form has contributed to their “underachiever” label, citing disappointing results in the Caribbean this year. In 2026, the West Indies suffered home series losses to Sri Lanka and Australia. More recently, defeats to Ireland—including a loss that nearly derailed their tournament—meant the West Indies had to rely on New Zealand’s defeat to England to secure their semi-final berth.
“As a group, we were disappointed,” Matthews said. “We didn’t want to depend on other results. We felt a kind of way that we didn’t want to feel. We let ourselves down, but now that we’re through, maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. We can use that pain as motivation, similar to how our exit from the 2025 ODI World Cup qualifiers drove our training. We are a passionate group, and we want to stop those feelings of disappointment from happening.”
“As a captain and as one of the more renowned players in the team, that pressure is probably a bit deserved”
On the pressure of being Hayley Matthews
The West Indies are often labeled as “unpredictable,” a moniker that Matthews finds fitting for the T20 format, where a single over or one standout performance can shift the momentum of an entire match. While Australia and England have remained dominant, with Australia winning six titles through unparalleled consistency, the rest of the field is fighting for a breakthrough.
When asked how they can possibly defeat the world leaders, Matthews emphasized the need for a collective effort. “We’re going to need big performances from big players,” she explained. “To beat a team like Australia, you need more than one standout. We need our best players stepping up, but also role players like Aaliyah Alleyne and Jazarah Claxton, who have been great throughout the tournament. We haven’t played our best match yet—I haven’t even been in the runs—so there is plenty of room for improvement.”
West Indies’ loss against Ireland nearly put them out of the T20 World Cup•ICC/Getty Images
As the team’s marquee player, Matthews is facing a personal struggle with the bat. Currently third on the wicket-takers’ list, she has struggled for runs, scoring 115 across five matches at a strike rate of 97.45—her lowest World Cup return since 2020. She admits the burden of leadership and performance is heavy.
“Somewhat, yes, but I don’t think that’s abnormal,” Matthews said. “As captain and a renowned player, that pressure is deserved. It simply means I want to perform and help the team. We have older players in the squad who are passionate about taking this all the way. We aren’t guaranteed a semi-final spot every tournament, so we want to make the most of this opportunity.”
Facing an unbeaten Australian side that dominated India and South Africa, the West Indies enter the match as the clear underdogs. Matthews believes this lack of expectation is an advantage. “When people think your win would be a surprise, you feel free. The pressure is on Australia, who are expected to win; for them, a loss would be a massive disappointment. That eases the pressure on our shoulders.”
The first semi-final will take place this Tuesday at the Oval.
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