The past means nothing: Lanning

The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars are keeping their minds firmly fixed on the present as they prepare for their World T20 final showdown with the West Indies on Sunday.

The Southern Stars have won the past three titles, but captain Meg Lanning said her team was refusing to be distracted by the enormity of what they will achieve should they triumph at Eden Gardens.

"We haven't spoken about it a lot within the group," Lanning said on Saturday.

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"Throughout the tournament we've said we're here to win it. just like every other side is.

"We're not defending the title, we're here to win the 2016 tournament.

"Tomorrow is a new day and we have to start from scratch. 

"Nothing that’s happened before really matters and that's how we're treating it."

While Australia boast a wealth of finals experience and a flawless record in T20Is against the West Indies, Lanning said she expected a fierce contest from their Caribbean rivals.

"Nothing that's happened in the past is going to count tomorrow," she said.

"The team that settles the quickest and gets into the rhythm of the game will start off the best.

"It's a big occasion, no doubt about that. These are the days we really train for and play for.

"We're really excited for the opportunity to play at such a famous ground in a final. It doesn’t get much better than that."

The Southern Stars claimed the 2010, 2012 and 2014 trophies – which sit in a large collection that also includes the 2013 World Cup and the Women's Ashes – but there's no shortage of hunger in the World No.1 team.

"There's no doubt we love winning as a side," she said.

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"Each tournament is very different and it's hard to compare the last three to the build-up to this game, but we're a very competitive side.

"In anything we do, we love to win and we want to win. The hunger in this side as good as ever been."

Wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy said the disappointment of losing three T20 series in the past seven months had only increased their determination to find World T20 success.

"Losing a few series coming into the World T20 helps," Healy said.

"We probably haven't been playing our best T20 cricket leading up to the competition so it's nice to be able to get here and play some really good cricket, especially at the back end of the tournament. 

"I think we've been building for a while."

Australia are old hands when it comes to tournament finals, but a match-up with the Windies is something they have only experienced once before, in the 2013 one-day World Cup.

"West Indies, with their unpredictability, makes it I guess that little bit more nerve wracking," Healy said.

"But I think once we get out there on Sunday I think the girls will be pumped and ready to go and once we get on the field we’ll feel comfortable and able to back ourselves to put ourselves in a good position."