Australia is the most successful team in Women’s World Cup history with 6 title wins and they come into the tournament as one of the favorites. But, the team had mixed results in the warm-up matches as they suffered a huge defeat in the 2nd warm-up match against New Zealand.
Australia scored 321 as Healy, Lanning, Mooney, and Gardener scored excellent 50s. New Zealand Captain Sophie Devine scored a match-winning unbeaten 161 and chipped in an unbeaten 206 run partnership with Amelia Kerr who scored 92* and took NZ home by 9 wickets.
That is some statement by Home Team 👏 NZ successfully chased down 321 in warm-up.
AUS: 321 (49.3)
Meg Lanning: 87
Alyssa Healy: 64
Hannah Rowe: 4/49NZ: 325-1 (43.1)
Sophie Devine: 161*
Amelia Kerr: 92*
Alana King: 1/48New Zealand won by 9 wickets.#NZvAUS #CWC2022 pic.twitter.com/66IonPqugM
— Female Cricket #CWC22 (@imfemalecricket) March 1, 2022
Speaking to Laura Jolly of Cricket Australia about the defeat, the Australian coach Matthew Mott said, “Whether we won or lost yesterday, it doesn’t count for a lot. As a bowling group, I think we got some great lessons yesterday, and it does show just how dangerous some teams can be.”
He also added, “I’m not going to hide behind the fact we don’t like losing. No one likes losing. But if you’re going to lose, that’s the match to lose and learn some lessons before we start the ones that count for points.”
While discussing how England will be ready for the first match against them in the world cup, Mott said, “England have shown over a long period of time is that they love tournament play, they turn up at the right times and that’s why they’re the world champions at the moment.”
Mott also mentioned that the team had gone low-key and not 100% into warm-up games as the team was coming off a long Women’s Ashes and a ‘dangerous period’ in Mandatory Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ).
He also added, “The one thing we’re were mindful of was not going too hard and picking up some injuries. We want to make sure that we’re starting to play our best cricket now. I was ecstatic that everyone got a good hit at warm-up games. The players feel fresh, that’s been the feedback so far that they feel really good and ready to go.”
Australia is expected to make a huge impact in the world cup like always. They start their campaign against England on March 5th at Hamilton.
Australia World Cup schedule:
March 5th, 2022 – Australia vs England – Hamilton- 6.30 AM IST
March 8th 2022 – Australia vs Pakistan – Mount Maunganui – 6.30 AM IST
March 13th 2022 – Australia vs New Zealand – Wellington – 3.30 AM IST
March 15th 2022 – Australia vs West Indies – Wellington – 3.30 AM IST
March 19th 2022 – Australia vs India – Auckland – 6.30 AM IST
March 22nd 2022 – Australia vs South Africa – Wellington – 3.30 AM IST
March 25th 2022 – Australia vs Bangladesh – Wellington – 3.30 AM IST
Australia World Cup squad:
Meg Lanning (c) Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington.
Traveling reserves: Heather Graham, Georgia Redmayne
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