Before the West Indies Women’s match against Australia, head coach Shane Deitz gave his team some lighthearted advice: “Go out there and enjoy it.”

Over the next two weeks, West Indies will host a match against Australia, the defending world champions. Shane Deitz, a former South Australia wicketkeeper-batter who has coached the Bangladesh and Netherlands women’s teams in the past, is leading the effort for the West Indies in his first series as head coach. Deitz is motivated to leave his mark on this team despite having taken on his post just a month ago.

Despite their recent failure in the Ashes and a general tie in both white-ball series, Australia will start the match as the heavy favorite. While The West Indies are beginning their first bilateral trip of Australia since 2014. Despite past struggles, they have recently rediscovered their footing in the T20 format, winning their last five games after a run of 15 straight losses. The 48-year-old has given his team a straightforward yet important message ahead of the series opener in Sydney,

“Get outside and take it all in. Play freely and enjoy the challenge; we have nothing to lose. Australia has traditionally been the finest team in the world. We must establish a sense of who we are as players. I want to approach it by utilizing my innate aptitude and abilities and letting it flow. Have fun and play with a smile on your face, Deitz advised ESPN CricInfo.

Leading from the front is Hayley Mathews

Captain Hayley Matthews, a crucial member of the West Indies roster who will be joining the Melbourne Renegades for the forthcoming Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), finds this mindset to be very appealing.

Matthews, who made her ODI debut on the 2014 trip at the young age of 16, has been in excellent form, scoring half century in recent ODIs. She was promoted to captain last year to replace Stafanie Taylor, and she carries a plethora of experience with her.

She was formerly the top run-scorer and wicket-taker for the West Indies at the 2022 ODI World Cup, and this year in T20 Internationals, she sports an impressive average of 43.33 with the bat and 15.78 with the ball. Her recent outstanding performance in the WCPL final is evidence of her talent. The 25-year-old will likely play a crucial role in the West Indies’ hopes, as they strive to dethrone the great Australians Down Under, with one eye firmly fixed on next year’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.