On a quest for an unprecedented four-peat, Australia can lay claim to being Group A and, indeed, tournament favourites at ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, even if Alyssa Healy’s Australia side are arguably placed in the tougher of the two groups in the United Arab Emirates. The world’s No. 3 ranked T20I side India, and Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka will fancy their chances for the second spot, with feisty competitors Pakistan and former finalists New Zealand in the mix to make for a highly competitive group.
Australia, which has won the T20 World Cup a record six times in the eight editions of the tournament, is undoubtedly the biggest obstacle for the Indians. With the last three titles — 2018, 2020, and 2023 — in the bag and a large part of the core from then still intact in the squad announced for the 2024 chapter, the Aussies are among the favourites to go the distance.
Australia : Not as immovable but a dominant title contender in Women’s cricket
Another ICC event, another Aussie women’s team that starts as favorite. The six-time champions are eyeing a record fourth consecutive title, and will no doubt be the team to beat at the showpiece. This means they are highly fancied to top a group which is relatively tricker among the two.
They will be without the services of ruthless batter and unmatched tactician Meg Lanning, who led Australia to four of its titles. Skipper Alyssa Healy, who has been a part of the senior core that has carried this team to countless victories, will aim to register one as captain, helping her officially step out of Lanning’s very large shadow.
In 12 T20Is this year, the Aussies have come out on top 10 times. Australia hosted New Zealand in a T20I series, predictably sealing it in the second game itself. However, the experience was not without its hiccups. In the second fixture, the Kiwis bundled Australia out for 142 in a batting innings that was every color of bizarre.
In the 13 T20Is the team has played in 2024, it has won just one game — against England — and that too by a whisker (three runs). Its defeats have been fairly comprehensive, hardly the signs a side wants in a World Cup year.
Sophie Molineux, whose stock as a shrewd spinner has risen exponentially after a famous WPL triumph with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, will be key to Australia’s fortunes. Allrounder Grace Harris will hope to devastate as much as she entertains, while Darcie Brown and Tayla Vlaeminck have made the cut to bolster their respective departments. Phoebe Litchfield is set for a debut World Cup.
Despite the absence of all-conquering captain Meg Lanning, who has called time on her international career, the Aussies are favourites for the upcoming competition boasting six of the eight Women’s T20 World Cup trophies, winning the competition on the last three occasions. Now led by Alyssa Healy, the younger members of the group are expected to shoulder more responsibility, but their unrivalled depth with the bat and deep resources with the ball should give the squad confidence.
Beth Mooney’s contribution with the bat remains vital, though the work of Phoebe Litchfield and Grace Harris, among others, will go a long way towards a title defence. The side boasts capable players with bat in hand all the way down to No.9 in the order. The sheer number of all-rounders give Healy options to pivot if required with the ball, though the spin-bowling group is tipped to tie the field down.
The gap is slowly being bridged to Australia in terms of collective quality across other playing groups, but until Healy and her side are dethroned, it’s their tournament to lose.
Player to look out for Australia : Sophie Molineux
Making her return after a spate of injuries in recent years, Sophie Molineux will be hungry for T20 World Cup 2024 success, and the spin-bowling all-rounder should play a starring role in favoring conditions.
The 26-year-old has battled foot, knee and rib injuries over the last three years, at one point losing her Australian central contract and going almost 860 days between national team appearances.
Since her return, however, Molineux has looked every bit the player who danced in celebration on the stage with Katy Perry after winning the 2020 T20 World Cup, as a regular wicket-taker and capable batter down the order if required. Considering Molineux, among others, edged out a world-class Jess Jonassen in the squad, there is a lot of faith put on hir to deliver on the big stage once again.
Australia Women squad : Alyssa Healy (c), Darcie Brown, Ash Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (vc), Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham
Australia fixtures in World Cup T20 : v Sri Lanka, Sharjah, 5 October , v New Zealand, Sharjah, 8 October ,v Pakistan, Dubai, 11 October ,v India, Sharjah, 13 October
Expectations from Australia : While Australia will be an overwhelmingly strong contender for a semi-final berth, they are likely to face stiff competition from the Indian team. Harmanpreet Kaur and Co have warmed up for the tournament in style with two comprehensive wins in the tune-ups, and will be eager to mount a challenge in front of Alyssa Healy’s side.