Aus v Ind

Australia and India get Big Dance underway

Aus v Ind
  • The seventh edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 is up and running
  • Australia and India got the tournament started at the Sydney Showground
  • Ten teams will take part in 23 matches at six venues across Australia

Molly Strano bowled the first ball of the seventh edition of the showpiece, with hosts Australia taking on India in front of a bumper crowd at Sydney Showground.

Off-spinner Strano, confirmed as injured Tayla Vlaeminck's replacement less than 48 hours before the curtain-raiser, was in the thick of the action from the start and dropped Smriti Mandhana at midwicket from Ellyse Perry's second over.

The starting gun has been fired on what’s set to be 17 days of unmissable sport, encompassing 23 games, ten teams, six venues and gripping the world from start to finish.

Sydney Showground sprung into life hours before Strano sent down the first delivery, with fans from both nations descending on the ground’s Fan Village for a whole host of pre-match activities.

An electrifying opening ceremony set the scene for what’s to come, with all 10 countries celebrated with dance displays on the outfield and live music ramping up the crowd for the big event.

After Friday’s opener, attention turns to Perth and the iconic WACA Ground where West Indies take on Thailand and New Zealand face Sri Lanka in the first double-header of the tournament.

You don’t need to look far for fascinating narratives, with four-time champions Australia hoping to rise to the occasion with arch-rivals England and precocious India waiting in the wings.

New Zealand and South Africa are both seemingly peaking at the perfect time, 2016 winners West Indies remain deadly and Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka are all capable of big performances.

And with Thailand making their global tournament debut in Australia, a modern cricketing fairy-tale is set to capture the hearts and minds of the world from start to end.

Of course, it all comes down to the MCG on 8 March - International Women’s Day - when two teams will fight it out to be crowned champions.

And if it’s anything like the action on store in the opening game of the tournament, it’s going to be quite a ride.

Media Zone Lead