The ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 warm-up match between two arch-rivals, Australia Women and England Women, promises to be a captivating encounter ahead of the main tournament. Both sides are using this fixture at the BCCI Centre of Excellence ground in Bengaluru as a crucial test to fine-tune their squads and strategies. With the tournament opener just days away, teams will be pushing hard to find form and settle their playing elevens.
England come into the warm-up boasting confidence from their recent emphatic performance, notably a commanding 339/9 against India in their previous warm-up match. The batting lineup, sparked by skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt’s scintillating century and a powerful knock from Emma Lamb, has shown readiness to take on any bowling attack. This match offers England a chance to reinforce their batting depth and test combinations against a strong Australian bowling attack.
Defending champions Australia will be eager to assert their dominance as they prepare for their World Cup campaign. Known for their balanced squad and potent all-rounders, Australia will look to sharpen their bowling attack and test their batting under pressure against England’s formidable lineup. With tactical battles expected on both fronts, this warm-up encounter is set to offer a thrilling preview of the rivalry and set the tone for the tournament ahead.
Squads:
Australia Women’s Cricket Team
Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, Heather Graham, Tahlia McGrath, Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Alana King, Darcie Brown, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt, Sophie Molineux
England Women’s Cricket Team
Alice Capsey, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Heather Knight, Sophia Dunkley, Charlie Dean, Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont, Em Arlott, Lauren Bell, Lauren Filer, Linsey Smith, Sarah Glenn
Players to watch out:
Emma Lamb
Emma Lamb has played 20 ODIs, scoring 560 runs with an average of 32.94 and a strike rate of 87.92. She has recorded 4 half-centuries and 1 century, with her highest score being 102. Lamb also bowls off-break and has taken 3 wickets at an economy rate of 5.52. Lamb’s recent performances include a top score of 68 against India in July 2025. She was impressive against India in the previous warm-up game and will be crucial for England in the mega contest.
Nat Sciver-Brunt
Nat Sciver-Brunt has played 121 ODIs, scoring 4,092 runs with a batting average of 46.50 and a strike rate of 95.34. She has hit 25 half-centuries and 9 centuries, with the highest score of an unbeaten 148. As an all-rounder, she has taken 79 wickets with an average of 31.27 and an economy rate of 4.43 in ODIs. Sciver-Brunt is the current England captain and leads the team both with the bat and ball, recently notching up a century in the warm-up game against India and will be very crucial for England at the World Cup.
Alyssa Healy
Alyssa Healy is a prominent Australian wicketkeeper-batter who has played 118 Women’s ODIs, scoring 3,264 runs at an average of 30.56, with the highest score of 170 and a strike rate of 97.90. She has hit 5 centuries and 18 half-centuries in this format and is known for her aggressive batting style and record-breaking performances, including her 170 in the 2022 World Cup final, which is the highest individual score by a wicketkeeper in Women’s ODIs.
Ellyse Perry
Ellyse Perry has played 158 WODIs, scoring 4329 runs with an impressive batting average of 49.19. She has scored 3 centuries and 36 half-centuries, with the highest unbeaten score of 112. As an all-rounder, Perry has taken 166 wickets at an average of 25.56, with best bowling figures of 7/22. Known for her consistency and match-winning ability, she remains a vital player for Australia in both batting and bowling.
Pitch:
The pitch at BCCI Centre of Excellence 1 in Bengaluru is generally known for being well-maintained and balanced, offering fair assistance to both batters and bowlers. The surface tends to be true with moderate pace and bounce, which allows stroke-making but still gives seamers some early movement and rewards disciplined bowling.
Weather:
Bengaluru will have a mostly cloudy day with patchy rain possible. Temperatures will range between 20°C and 28°C. Winds will be moderate around 23 km/h from the west-northwest. Humidity will stay around 76%, making it feel slightly warm yet fresh.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Ashleigh Gardner, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney
Match Details:
Date – September 27, 2025
Time – 3:00 PM IST
Venue – BCCI Centre of Excellence 1, Bengaluru
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website.
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