Meg Lanning, the legendary former captain of the Australian Women’s cricket team, affectionately nicknamed “the Megastar,” has revealed her XI for Australia’s ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 opener.
As a World Cup-winning skipper herself, Lanning’s insights and selections carry immense weight as Australia prepares to defend their title starting October 1 in Indore against New Zealand. In The ICC Review with host Sanjana Ganesan, Meg Lanning predicted the probable 11 in the opening game of Australia.
Lanning’s team makes a fine balance between great experience and youthful energy. The opening partnership combines the reliability of Alyssa Healy with the exciting talent of young Phoebe Litchfield; a player Lanning describes as great to watch. “Healy and Litchfield, who have shown over the last little bit that they’re a pretty dynamic partnership up the top there,” Lanning said, highlighting their complementary styles and recent strong performances.
The middle and lower batting order features seasoned players whose presence adds depth and resilience. Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney—who is also capable behind the stumps if needed—Ash Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, and Tahlia McGrath complete a well-rounded lineup ready to handle high-pressure situations in matches.
However, Lanning pointed out that the primary selection challenge for the 2025 campaign lies in the bowling department. “I think the challenge will be picking the bowlers and what sort of lineup they want to go with there,” she said.
The pace and bounce offered by Darcie Brown bring a sharp edge, while the spin options include leg spinners Alana King and Georgia Wareham, both of whom have featured in recent series and bring valuable experience. Kim Garth adds further variety, providing flexibility depending on the match situation.
Lanning’s experience as a former leader on the world stage also provided perspective on the upcoming clash with New Zealand, who are fresh off their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory. New Zealand have proven themselves as big-game players with dangerous match winners who bring years of expertise. Every encounter against them is intense and competitive, making them formidable opponents for the opening match of Australia.
As the countdown to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 continues, Lanning’s XI highlights Australia’s strength and soundness to defend their title. Fans can look forward to a thrilling match on October 1 in Indore as Australia aims to retain their crown this World Cup and the match against New Zealand is the first step towards it.
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