Much like the men’s team, the women’s contingent under Alyssa Healy are no different when it comes to hunting down trophies like relentless predators with their eyes on their prey. In fact, the dominance of Australia Women extends to such an extent that they have won the previous three editions of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
Captain of the side, Alyssa Healy, had her focus locked in on the primary objective. Without making light of the participants in front of her team, she felt her team had the most superior knack for flexibility. Furthermore, she discussed the importance of adapting to the playing conditions in a mega event, which would prove to be the main difference between the teams contesting for the World Cup glory.
Alyssa Healy’s role as Australia’s key player and her excitement being captain for the 1st time
Alyssa Healy, the captain of Australia’s women’s cricket team, has clarified their objective for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Despite their three consecutive title wins since 2016, Alyssa Healy emphasized that they are not in Asia to defend their title but to secure another victory.
Alyssa Healy acknowledged the challenges posed by their group, which includes India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
She expressed her excitement for these upcoming matches and emphasized the need for quick adaptation throughout the tournament. This will be Alyssa Healy’s first T20 World Cup as full-time captain, a role she assumed last December following Meg Lanning’s retirement from international cricket. Despite this new responsibility, Healy remains unfazed by the pressure and is ready to face the challenges ahead.
In 159 matches, Alyssa Healy owns 2,987 runs at an average of 25.31. She is 13 runs shy of the 3,000-run mark. In addition to one ton, she has slammed 17 fifties. She is closing in on 400 fours (399).
Carrying her views ahead, the wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy also spoke on the side’s performing well under immense pressure in the past. Hence, Australian women are undeterred by the pressure ahead to come in the T20 World Cup. Having emerged victorious in both of their warm-up fixtures, Healy & Co. would be more than self-assured going into the tournament in search of their fourth title in succession.
Australia skipper Alyssa Healy’s goal is to win T20 World Cup 2024
Australian captain Alyssa Healy has firmly set her sights on winning the T20 World Cup this year. However, the wicketkeeper-batter has acknowledged that their group of India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka is a tricky one.
Australia have won the previous three editions of the T20 World Cup and will start as the firm favourites to win it this year as well. The Women in Yellow have been in excellent form as well, having recently secured a 3-0 T20I series win against New Zealand.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Healy, who will captain the Aussies in a World Cup for the first time, said (as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo):
“You don’t come here to defend the title, that’s not what the World Cup is about, you come here to win it. So we are here with that approach. Our pool [Group A with India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka] is quite a tricky one. We’ve got to get past these teams to have a chance of lifting the trophy. So it’s a challenge I’m very excited for.”
Australia remained undefeated in the 2023 T20 World Cup on their way to the title. They beat hosts South Africa by 19 runs in the final hosted by Newlands, Cape Town.
Alyssa Healy speaks on the competition from remaining 9 teams
Alyssa Healy also suggested that she takes pride in Australia being the target of all teams and sees it as a challenge to showcase the brand of cricket they wish to play. She said:
“It feels like, without being disrespectful, we have been hunted for a long period of time. We’re constantly being asked about that, and we’re used to it now. Teams are coming really hard at us to put us under the pump which we love. This World Cup is going to be no different. We know what the other nine are going to throw at us given the opportunity. We see it as a challenge and an opportunity to showcase a brand of cricket we like playing.”
Since losing the T20 World Cup crown to West Indies in India in 2016, Australia have gone on a bull run to win three titles back-to-back. As they return to Asia to try to hunt down a fourth straight title, questions have been raised about their invincibility.
They whitewashed New Zealand 3-0 in the T20I series at home last month, razed down Bangladesh on some tough wickets in Mirpur in April and overturned a ten-wicket hammering to beat India 2-1 at the start of the year. Upon arrival in Dubai for the T20 World Cup, they beat West Indies and England in the warm-ups.
But there have been occasional blips too, like the T20I series loss to England, a defeat each against South Africa and West Indies on away tours on either side of the women’s Ashes.
This will be Alyssa Healy’s first T20 World Cup as full-time captain; she was given the role last December after Meg Lanning announced her international retirement. This was preceded by a small period where Alyssa Healy had filled in for Lanning, including at last year’s Ashes, without fully knowing if Lanning would return.
Australia open their campaign on October 6 with an afternoon game against Sri Lanka in Sharjah. They next play New Zealand before meeting Pakistan in Dubai. They round off their league engagements with a high-voltage clash against India in Sharjah on October 13.