Australia to face West Indies in T20 warm-up

Australia are set to prepare for their World Twenty20 campaign in India with a warm-up match against the West Indies in Kolkata.

The International Cricket Council today announced the warm-up schedule and match timings for the showpiece event, which begins on March 8 with qualifying matches.

Australia will play a practice match against the West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 13 at 7.30pm local time (1.00am on March 14 AEDT).

In a fiery clash in the 2014 edition of the World T20, the West Indies defeated Australia, which helped to consign them to a group stage exit in the tournament.

Chris Gayle and Darren Sammy led the West Indies to that victory, both of whom were named in their 2016 squad on Monday.

Australia’s World T20 campaign officially gets underway against New Zealand in Dharamsala on March 18 at 7.30pm local time.

In addition to the Kiwis, Steve Smith’s side will also face India, Pakistan and a qualifying team (from Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Ireland or Oman) in Group 2 of the ‘Super 10’ phase of the tournament.

Sri Lanka, South Africa, the West Indies, England and a second qualifying team (from Zimbabwe, Scotland, Hong Kong and Afghanistan) are the nations in Group 1.

Prior to the tournament, Australia will make a quick trip to South Africa to play the Proteas in three T20 Internationals in early March.

Following the Qantas Tour of South Africa, Australia will fly out to India as they attempt to claim the only major international tournament they are yet to win.

The men’s afternoon matches for the tournament will start 3.00pm local time (8.30pm AEDT) while evening matches will begin at 7.30pm local time (1.00am the following day AEDT), with the semi-finals and the final to be held at 7pm local time.

The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars will prepare for their Women’s World T20 title defence with a warm-up game also against the West Indies, at Guru Nanak in Chennai on March 14 (3.00pm local time, 8.30pm AEDT).

Australia’s World T20 schedule (dates and times in AEDT, final in AEST):

March 14: (Practice match) Australia v West Indies at 1.00am

March 18: Australia v New Zealand in Dharamsala at 8.30pm

March 22: Australia v Qualifier 1A in Bengalaru at 1.00am

March 25: Australia v Pakistan in Mohali at 8.30pm

March 28: Australia v India in Mohali at 1.00am

April 1: First semi-final in New Delhi at 12.30am

April 2: Second semi-final in Mumbai at 12.30am

April 4: Final in Kolkata at 11.30pm