WEST Indies Captain Shai Hope is determined to lead his team to a strong comeback in the upcoming T20 series against Australia. After a 3-0 loss in the Test series, Hope is confident his team can regroup and make a positive impact in the shorter format.

The series will kick off with back-to-back matches at Sabina Park on Sunday and Tuesday, before shifting to Warner Park in St Kitts for the final three games scheduled for July 26, 27 and 29.

The two teams have a storied history in T20 cricket, with Australia and West Indies having faced each other 22 times in the format. The head-to-head record is even, each team having won 11 matches.

Hope is optimistic about his team’s chances.

“It’s a lot to look forward to, especially with the year we had,” he said.

“We had a very challenging year, especially with the white-ball stuff. Coming off the back of that loss in the Test series we’re trying to turn things around. We have a lot of experienced guys in our group so it is good to have them around, and hopefully we can start this series well.”

Hope said it is important to start the series on a winning note.

“We tend to defend our home court very well, and it’s something we’ve been doing quite well for some time in 50-over and T20 cricket,” he said. “The guys have been putting in the hard work, and everyone has the experience, so it’s something to look forward to for the rest of the season leading into the 2026 World Cup.”

The West Indies team will also be bidding farewell to one of their stalwarts, Andre Russell, who has announced his retirement from international cricket.

Russell is a legendary figure in West Indies T20 cricket, having won two T20 World Cups for the team. Hope paid tribute to Russell’s contributions.

“He is one of those names, when you mention T20 you have to call him and put him in the picture,” Hope said. “He is a great guy to have around, very fun to be around, and he has certainly shared a lot of his knowledge, especially [in the] T20 format.

“We are going to miss him quite a lot. He has done a lot for West Indies cricket as he has won two T20 World Cups for us. We want to send him off on a good note. Hopefully we can win those two first games and give him a great send-off here in Jamaica.”

However, Hope cautioned his team against taking Australia lightly.

“We can’t let down our guard against Australia,” he said. “They are number two in the world in T20, and they’ve showcased why they’re there. It’s important for us to raise our game, especially coming off that tough loss in the Test series.

“That is in the past; we are going to ensure that we are covering our bases. We know what they’re capable of. They have quite [a number of] quality players and it’s important for us not to take anything lightly.

“We have been successful in our home court for quite some series now but that doesn’t mean that we’re going to be guaranteed a win. We have to make sure we play our best cricket, start the series well, and hopefully we can finish it even better.”

The Windies will need to be at their best to take on a quality Australian side. With a mix of experience and youthful energy, Hope said they are confident of putting up a strong fight.

“Every time you are playing cricket, every opportunity you get to showcase your skills and keep learning — as well as learning as a group — is very important,” he said. “Most of the guys are playing together — even though we are not here in Jamaica together — but those same guys, we understand each other’s games, each other’s personalities, and so that same experience and the way how we are going to rely on each other going forward [will be crucial for victory].”