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Heavy workload no concern for Mott

The Australia coach believes his side will be able to cope with a rigorous schedule over the next few months

Australia’s all-conquering cricketers will barely have a chance to unpack upon their arrival home from the Caribbean before they find it’s time to repack and reset for the next phase of operation: T20 World Cup.

Meg Lanning’s team capped off a successful limited-overs tour of the West Indies with a nine-wicket win in the third and final T20I in Barbados on Wednesday, reaching their target of 82 in just 7.3 overs to record their largest ever victory in the format in terms of balls remaining.

On the eve of the series finale, the squad and staff enjoyed a boat cruise along Barbados’ west coast; a final chance to relax and take in their surrounds before turning their attention back to what lies ahead.

Next on the agenda is the home limited-overs series against Sri Lanka, a whirlwind contest that will see three T20Is and three ODIs played in the space of 11 days across Sydney and Brisbane.

The Sri Lanka series is the latest phase of a hectic 10-month period for the national team which started with their arrival in the United Kingdom for the women’s Ashes in June and will end with a tour of South Africa in March and April.

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With the first standalone season of the Rebel WBBL to follow hot on the heels of the final ODI in Brisbane and the T20 World Cup – as well as a tri-series against India and England in the lead-up to the tournament – still to come, the risk of fatigue is real.

But Australia coach Matthew Mott is confident his players can handle the workload.

"It’s a test of our professionalism," he said.

"That’s why (the players) slog around the gym and do the work.

"To be able to still be fresh and have energy at the end of this tour has been a real test. 

"But they all hold each other to account and when we review our matches, it’ not so much about the opposition but about what we can control."

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Sri Lanka are ranked eighth on both limited-overs formats and Australia will head in as heavy favourites, but with the T20 World Cup to be played on home soil next February and March, the 20-over matches will be particularly important as the hosts prepare for their bid at back-to-back titles.

"It’s a great opportunity and we’re playing at two great venues," Mott said of the matches to be played at North Sydney Oval and Allan Border Field.

"There’s a lot (to focus on) in the T20s in particular, getting our patterns and our processes right for a World Cup. 

"We’ll look forward to it."

The Australian group will not take part in the opening round of the 50-over Women’s National Cricket League this weekend, instead given a chance to rest ahead of the Sri Lanka series.

The T20I and ODI squads for those matches will be named on September 25, ahead of the first T20 at North Sydney Oval on Sunday September 29.

CommBank Tour of the West Indies

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Erin Burns, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Heather Graham, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

West Indies ODI squad: Stafanie Taylor (c), Hayley Matthews (vc), Reniece Boyce, Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry, Shamilia Connell, Stacy Ann King, Natasha McLean, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Anisa Mohammed, Karishma Ramharack, Shabika Gajnabi

One-Day Internationals*
*ICC Women's Championship matches

First ODI: Australia won by 178 runs

Second ODI: Australia won by 151 runs

Third ODI: Australia won by eight wickets

Twenty20 Internationals

First T20: Australia won by six wickets

September 16: Australia won by nine wickets

September 18: Australia won by nine wickets