Southern Stars ready to lift again

Alyssa Healy says the Southern Stars' big-game experience will be a big help when they confront West Indies in a fourth straight World Twenty20 final.

The Southern Stars are banking on big-game experience as they seek to topple West Indies and complete a remarkable World Twenty20 four-peat.

Australia are one win from grabbing a fourth straight T20 title, an unprecedented accomplishment in men's or women's cricket.

"An unbelievable effort and something that will probably never be done again," wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy said of its significance.

Australia's march to the Kolkata decider that starts at 7pm AEST on Sunday has followed a similar formula to their past two World T20 wins.

The three-time defending champions have lost a match and played inconsistent cricket in the pool stage.

But they've produced their best when it matters most, thriving under pressure to eliminate England in last Wednesday's semi-final.

West Indies, featuring in their first ever World T20 final, are next.

Healy hoped the mismatch in experience would work in her side's favour at Eden Gardens, a famed venue where she has long dreamed of playing.

"I think it does help. I'm not sure how but I think it does .. it showed in the semi-final as well," the 26-year-old said.

"That's lucky I guess that we have that experience, to have played in these big games.

"The last three (World T20s) have been in the subcontinent so there's a little bit of a similarity there but ... obviously different opposition.

"West Indies, their unpredictability makes it I guess that little bit more nerve racking."

Australia walloped West Indies by 114 runs in the 2013 ODI World Cup final, also in India.

Healy wasn't part of the XI in that tournament but knows to expect the unexpected from the Caribbean queens, who upset New Zealand in their semi.

"They're definitely the most unpredictable side in this competition and we saw that in the semi-final," Healy said.

"We played them in a warm-up game so know a little bit about them and we've played them in a series not that long ago so we've done our homework previously."

In addition to studying footage of this tournament and previous meetings, the women's Big Bash League has also helped Australia prepare for the high-stakes fixture.

West Indies' Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, Stacy-Ann King and Hayley Matthews all featured in the inaugural WBBL.

"It's helped with most of the teams we've come up against," Healy said.

"Getting to know them a little bit more and understanding how they play the game in their own teams is obviously pretty special, that we can tap into that resource.

"Stafanie Taylor was in the Sydney Thunder and some of the girls have some good stuff on her so fingers crossed it works.

"We had a pretty good start against them in the warm-up game and I know it's a warm-up game but we started really well there so hopefully we can do that on Sunday."


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Source: AAP



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