Australia’s women will return to the Caribbean in March-April 2026 for a six-match white-ball tour as both teams fine-tune their preparations for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, with plans for a historic Test match shelved to priorities white-ball cricket in a T20 World Cup year.
Australia and West Indies are set to clash in three T20 Internationals (T20Is) in St Vincent followed by three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in St Kitts, beginning March 19, after Cricket West Indies confirmed the itinerary. The tour will mark Australia’s first overseas assignment in the post Alyssa Healy era.
The series was originally designed as a multi-format contest and was expected to include a landmark women’s Test, the first between the two nations since 1976 and West Indies’ first red-ball appearance since 2004. However, the Test has been removed from the schedule as both boards opted to prioritise white-ball cricket in a World Cup year.
“With the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup just a few months away, this series against Australia is a pivotal benchmark in our preparation,” CWI’s Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe said in the statement. “It gives our players the opportunity to challenge themselves against the very best and to elevate their performance under pressure. Our planning this year prioritises maximising white-ball readiness ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. This series forms a central part of that preparation, allowing us to concentrate resources and build combinations.”
Cricket Australia confirmed that extensive discussions were held to preserve the Test fixture, but practical constraints ultimately led to a white-ball-only tour. CA’s head of scheduling, operations and domestic cricket Peter Roach said both boards had explored all possible alternatives. “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 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.”
For West Indies, the series provides a major competitive opportunity following a mixed year on the global stage. The Caribbean side reached the semi-finals of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE but failed to qualify for the subsequent ODI World Cup, making the upcoming tour a key step in their rebuild.
Australia, meanwhile, are entering a transitional phase in T20 Internationals (T20Is) under newly appointed captain Sophie Molineux, after their own semi-final exit at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The Caribbean ODIs will also carry added significance, as they mark Australia’s first fixtures in the new cycle of the ICC Women’s ODI Championship. The competition determines automatic qualification for the 2029 Women’s ODI World Cup, with teams competing across a three-year period.
Australia’s squads for the tour are expected to be announced following the conclusion of the upcoming one-off Test against India in Perth on March 9.
While the absence of a Test match remains a disappointment for advocates of women’s red-ball cricket, Cricket West Indies has reiterated its long-term commitment to the format. The ICC Future Tours Programme currently lists a women’s Test between West Indies and England in April 2027.
“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,” Bascombe said.
Australia’s tour of the West Indies 2026
First T20I: March 19, Arnos Vale, St Vincent
Second T20I: March 21, Arnos Vale, St Vincent
Third T20I: March 23, Arnos Vale, St Vincent
First ODI: March 27, Warner Park, St Kitts
Second ODI: March 29, Warner Park, St Kitts
Third ODI: April 2, Warner Park, St Kitts
