Australian captain Meg Lanning has declared “nothing short of a three-peat” of T20 World Cup titles can be thought-about acceptable for a crew which has launched high-quality new “threats” because it appears to proceed its full domination of the event.
Lanning is already a four-time World Cup winner, together with three as captain amongst Australia’s 5 triumphs in seven T20 World Cups for the reason that first event in 2009.
The Aussies, who didn’t lose a single T20 by 2022 and have began 2023 with a dominant collection win over Pakistan, have taken a squad away to the most recent T20 World Cup with six totally different gamers from the group which was victorious on the MCG in 2020, a match performed in entrance of greater than 86,000 individuals.
Among these new gamers are the No.1-ranked batter on the earth and reigning ICC T20 participant of the yr Tahlia McGrath and powerhouse batter Grace Harris, who Lanning believes might take the World Cup by storm.
It’s the addition of these new “threats” together with teenage quick bowler Darcie Brown which has the Australians as raging favourites to win a 3rd title in a row and a fourth prior to now 5 World Cups
“Our squad has gone through a period of change since the last World Cup, but I think that is a positive,” Lanning mentioned forward of Australia’s Cup opener towards New Zealand on February 11.
“We are constantly evolving and have great flexibility in our team at the moment, both with bat and ball.
“Our preparation has been key in exploring different threats as well as providing the newer members of our squad with experience at international level.
“(The 2020 win) was an experience that will stay with me until the day I die … and nothing less than the three-peat will suffice.”
Lanning conceded circumstances in South Africa, the place the Aussies have by no means performed (a 2020 collection was cancelled), pose a brand new problem for her all-conquering group.
Two warm-up matches give the defending champions the possibility to regulate to the brand new environment, in addition to a chance for vice-captain Alyssa Healy to show she has overcome a calf harm.
“It will be the first time I and most of the squad have been to South Africa,” Lanning mentioned.
“A new country brings new challenges, most notably adjusting to the conditions. But the one thing we have proven over the years is that our most valuable weapon is adaptability, both in training and on the field.”
While Australia boasts a squad of established stars like Lanning, Healy, Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney, the captain mentioned Harris, who didn’t get to bat within the current collection towards Pakistan, might be a brand new weapon of their title defence.
“She is one of the world’s biggest hitters; she is someone who can do things other people can’t,” Lanning advised the T20 World Cup web site.
“She is very powerful, hits the ball a long way and, particularly in this format, can take the game away from the opposition in a very short space of time. No score is safe, especially when Grace is at her best.
“T20 cricket is really all about role playing and our preparation has been key in exploring different threats as well as providing the newer members of our squad with experience at international level.”
Australia’s T20 World Cup fixtures
Feb 11: v New Zealand, Boland Park, Paarl, 7pm native (4am Feb 12 AEDT)
Feb 14: v Bangladesh, St George’s Park, Gqeberha, 7pm native (4am Feb 15 AEDT)
Feb 16: v Sri Lanka, St George‘s Park, Gqeberha, 3pm local (12am Feb 17 AEDT)
Feb 18: v South Africa, St George’s Park, Gqeberha, 7pm native (4am Feb 19 AEDT)
Originally revealed as Australian captain Meg Lanning says nothing in need of successful T20 World Cup is suitable
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
