Australia didn’t get the start they were hoping for in the opening T20I against India, but Georgia Wareham says there’s no panic in the camp, just a clear understanding that they need to be smarter while staying bold.
In Sydney, Australia were bowled out for 133, only the second time they’ve been dismissed batting first in a home T20I. It wasn’t a disastrous total on paper, but on a good surface it always felt a touch light. Wareham, batting at 6, top-scored with a quick 30 and looked comfortable taking the game on exactly the mindset this Australian side is trying to embrace.
“(It wasn’t) the start we would have liked the other night,” Wareham admitted ahead of the second T20I in Canberra. “But I don’t think our plan changes too much going forward. I think the real pleasing thing as a batting group is we’re just taking the game on. It didn’t pay off for us, but the plan stays pretty similar.” The aggression was there. What was missing was composure at key moments.
“As a group, a lot of us took some risks that we probably didn’t need to at the time,” Wareham said honestly. “When you get bowled out in a T20 game it’s not ideal in any sort of conditions (and) a few of us just needed to take a little bit more ownership through the middle there. Just to try and build some partnerships and get us to a decent total at the end where we could accelerate a little bit later.”
Rain eventually cut short India’s chase, but India was already dominating at 1-51 after just 5.1 overs, well ahead of the required, going on to seal a 21-run DLS win. Australia now trails 0-1 in the T20I series.
After their semi-final exit at the 2024 T20 World Cup where they posted a below-par total on a good batting wicket, Australia made a conscious decision to evolve. The phrase “no ceilings” has been part of their thinking: maximise depth, play with freedom, and trust their firepower. But that freedom must come with awareness.
Looking ahead to Manuka Oval, Wareham is expecting runs. “The wicket’s usually really good, and scores are always really high,” she said with confidence. “There’ll be plenty of boundaries. It’s exciting cricket.”
Australia knows they need to respond. But they won’t do it by retreating into their shell. The message is clear: stay brave, be smarter, and trust the process. As the T20 world cup is approaching teams are preparing with all their strength.
(Quotes sourced from cricket.com.au)
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