MIND THE GAP. Australia eager to fill trophy cabinet again. 

Australia are ranked number one in the world for both ODI and T20 cricket. They have a squad packed with world-class players. They’re six-times winners of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

Currently, neither World Cup trophy is in their cabinet. 

And they want to change that.

Australia’s warm-up match against England at Cardiff offered a blunt statement of their intent.

Having restricted England to 157, they came out to bat in swashbuckling fashion. 

Beth Mooney reached 43 before Ellyse Perry set out her stall, whacking England for 64 from 44 balls. 

She seemed so relaxed she didn’t even celebrate her half-century – nonchalantly continuing with laser focus.

And even when you get rid of one world-class batter, there’s another one in the wings. 

The Australian squad is stacked.

Commentator and broadcaster Nikki Chaudhuri spoke to Clare McEwen about Australia’s credentials – confirming this is a side with something to prove.

Who should we be watching out for in Australia’s squad, what are they bringing to the T20 World Cup this year?

Australia have always been one of the strongest sides. They’ve led on the women’s cricket front.

I’m really excited to see Lucy Hamilton come into the side. 

She brings that left-arm option, which I think is so important in the women’s game. We don’t see many left-arm seamers. I think that will provide Australia with a good opportunity as well.

And of course, with the batting department, they’ve got the experience of Ellyse Perry. 

You’ve got Ash Gardner who hits the ball a long way. She’s got a wealth of experience.

She’s played so much franchise cricket as well. And I think when she comes into bat, she knows how to assess a situation, how to progress through the gears.

I’m really looking forward to watching her, as well as Phoebe Litchfield. 

I really enjoy watching Phoebe at the top of the order. She’s quite destructive, but she’s also very classy with the way she bats.

Alana King is one of the best leg spinners in the women’s game. She picked up, I think, 7 for 18 in the last [ODI] World Cup – the current best figures. And we’ve heard that she might not even be in the playing XI. 

Just to think of the bench strength that this Australian squad has, the variety they can opt for should things not go their way – it’s incredible.

And they don’t have a trophy in their cabinet right now. We know how hungry they are.

A new captain and a another star

Australia also have a new captain in Sophie Molineux.

And they have fresh talent in Georgia Voll – currently ranked number one batter in T20 – who compliments the experience in the squad. The 22-year-old Voll starts at the top of the order alongside Beth Mooney.

When Isa Guha asked Sophie Molineux at a recent media event whether she felt pressure at being the number one ranked team, the relaxed Molineux replied:

“Yes and no.

The way the game’s going, it’s evening up. T20 cricket, it could be anyone on any given day.

But at the same time, we’ve taken a lot of lessons out of the last couple of World Cups.

We’re all really hungry and excited to be able to get out there and hopefully put it in place in the biggest moments.”

Guha also asked about the expectation around Australia, given they haven’t won either of the last two World Cups.

Molineux was pragmatic:

“I think a good part of it is looking forward rather than looking back.

If you look back over the last 10 years, we’ve been really successful. But I do think we probably have got more learnings out of the last two World Cups than the seven or eight before.

Hopefully we’re setting a platform up for this World Cup and for a long time afterwards.”

Judging by the way they went about their business against England in Cardiff, that platform already looks high enough to see them add more silverware to their cabinet in the very near future.

Australia’s T20 WWC fixtures

Sat 13th June 14:30 v South Africa, Old Trafford

Weds 17th June 10:30 v Bangladesh, Headingley

Sat 20th June 10:30 v Netherlands, Hampshire Bowl

Tues 23rd June 18:30 v Pakistan, Headingley

Sun 28th June 14:30 v India, Lords

All matches live on Sky Sports.

For full fixture and where to watch details, check out our tournament preview.
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Photos: ICC, Clare McEwen