WT20WC 2024 Group A Preview: Target on Australia's back in competitive pool

On a quest for an unprecedented four-peat, Australia can lay claim to being Group A and, indeed, tournament favourites at ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024, even if Alyssa Healy's side are arguably placed in the tougher of the two groups in the United Arab Emirates.

The world's No. 3 ranked T20I side India, and Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka will fancy their chances for the second spot, with feisty competitors Pakistan and former finalists New Zealand in the mix to make for a highly competitive group.

Australia lift the Women's T20 World Cup title for a record sixth time!

Australia

Despite the absence of all-conquering captain Meg Lanning, who has called time on her international career, the Aussies are favourites for the upcoming competition boasting six of the eight Women's T20 World Cup trophies, winning the competition on the last three occasions.

Now led by Alyssa Healy, the younger members of the group are expected to shoulder more responsibility, but their unrivalled depth with the bat and deep resources with the ball should give the squad confidence.

Beth Mooney's contribution with the bat remains vital, though the work of Phoebe Litchfield and Grace Harris, among others, will go a long way towards a title defence. The side boasts capable players with bat in hand all the way down to No.9 in the order. The sheer number of all-rounders give Hesaly options to pivot if required with the ball, though the spin-bowling group is tipped to tie the field down.

The gap is slowly being bridged to Australia in terms of collective quality across other playing groups, but until Healy and her side are dethroned, it's their tournament to lose.

Squad

Alyssa Healy (c), Darcie Brown, Ash Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (vc), Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

The best of Beth Mooney in WT20WC

Fixtures

v Sri Lanka, Sharjah, 5 October

v New Zealand, Sharjah, 8 October

v Pakistan, Dubai, 11 October

v India, Sharjah, 13 October

Watch out for

Making her return after a spate of injuries in recent years, Sophie Molineux will be hungry for T20 World Cup 2024 success, and the spin-bowling all-rounder should play a starring role in favouring conditions.

The 26-year-old has battled foot, knee and rib injuries over the last three years, at one point losing her Australian central contract and going almost 860 days between national team appearances.

Since her return, however, Molineux has looked every bit the player who danced in celebration on the stage with Katy Perry after winning the 2020 T20 World Cup, as a regular wicket-taker and capable batter down the order if required.

Considering Molineux, among others, edged out a world-class Jess Jonassen in the squad, there is a lot of faith put on hir to deliver on the big stage once again.

India

One could argue a bat stuck in the turf quashed India's hopes of a Final appearance at last year's ICC Women's T20 World Cup, and neither Harmanpreet Kaur nor her India teammates need any more motivation after Cape Town semi-final heartbreaks.

Whilst a little rattled by their recent defeat to Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup Final, Harmanpreet Kaur's side are still in the discussion as one of the sides to claim tournament honours.

The Women in Blue have undertaken fitness and skills-based camps in the lead-up to the tournament, indicating that they've strong belief in their personnel and wanted to fine-tune aspects of their game off the field ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Perhaps the strongest aspect of India's game will be their top six batters, who have shown exceptional form and can take down any bowling line-up on their day. Also not to be underestimated is their bowling lineup, with tweakers who can be handy in the UAE.

Squad

Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Sajana Sajeevan

Fixtures

v New Zealand, Dubai, 4 October

v Pakistan, Dubai, 6 October

v Sri Lanka, Dubai, 9 October

v Australia, Sharjah, 13 October

Jemimah Rodrigues' best performances from WT20WC 2023

Watch out for

Even in a standout middle-order, Jemimah Rodrigues has proven time and again to be the clutch player in tense situations. The quick-thinking batter is the perfect link between a sturdy top-order and an explosive lower middle-order, capable of striking useful stands that help take the innings forward in the middle overs.

While India remain mum on the mystery of their No.3 batter, Rodrigues (batting at no. 5 in recent months) will play a crucial role in and around the order.

Set to play her fourth T20 World Cup at just 24, Rodrigues carries the experience of 100 T20Is into the tournament and seems perfectly placed in her career to capitalise on her immense talent.

New Zealand

New Zealand's last semi-final appearance, which came in 2016, seems like a distant memory, and the fact that they've exited in the group stage in the previous three editions of the T20 World Cup will spur Sophie Devine & Co. to go one better this around.

The White Ferns have a fine mix of T20 World Cup experience and upcoming talent and can overcome any competition on their day. In a very competitive Group A, the Kiwis will not be short of challenges to win – they go up against India in their opener.

Later on 8 October, they go up against Trans-Tasman rivals Australia, whom they haven't beaten since 2016 in the competition, a result that skipper Sophie Devine would not like to repeat in 2024.

Squad

Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Melie Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu

Fixtures

v India, Dubai, 4 October

v Australia, Sharjah, 8 October

v Sri Lanka, Sharjah, 12 October

v Pakistan, Dubai, 14 October

Eden Carson's stunning catch to send back Beth Mooney

Watch out for

Eden Carson already has a remarkable T20 World Cup moment to remember – the stunning catch of Beth Mooney against Australia in the 2023 edition.

The off-spinner, who has 13 wickets in the format at an economy of under seven since the last T20 World Cup, has a chance to add many such moments to her career in the UAE.

Carson has been productive throughout the season and will look to bring in her accurate off-spin to make a difference in Sharjah and Dubai.

Though she has never gone up against India – New Zealand's first opponents – in international cricket, Carson has good returns against sub-continental sides like Pakistan (three T20I wickets at 23) and Sri Lanka (six T20I wickets at 18.33), and would back her off-spinners against the highly-touted Women in Blue come the match day.

Nida Dar goes out of the ground!

Pakistan

There are reasons to be excited as a Pakistan fan, and while it might be early for a tournament push, multiple wins and a push towards a semi-final spot are not out of the question.

Switching the captaincy job from Nida Dar to Fatima Sana, Pakistan have brought in a young, energetic leader with nothing to lose ahead of a big event, while also freeing up a veteran in Dar, who can now solely focus on outfoxing the batters and unleashing mayhem with the willow.

Their batting showed positive signs in the recently concluded home contest against South Africa, while the spin attack led by the left-armers Nashra Sundhu and Sadia Iqbal can prove to be more than hana dful for opposition batters.

Squad

Fatima Sana (c), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal (subject to fitness), Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan

Fixtures

v Sri Lanka, Sharjah, 3 October

v India, Dubai, 6 October

v Australia, Dubai, 11 October

v New Zealand, Dubai, 14 October

Watch out for

Since the last T20 World Cup, Sadia Iqbal has been the lead bowler for Pakistan in the format with 36 scalps to her name. Her impressive average of 16.02 drops further to 12.94 in games Pakistan has won in this duration.

The world's No. 3-ranked T20I bowler, often hailed as a spinner who bowls with the attitude of a pacer, takes the new ball and outfoxes batters by varying her pace and lengths. The upcoming T20 World Cup could see her share the new-ball duties with one of the fast bowlers in the side to provide variety and control from her end.

Iqbal brings fighting spirit to the core in ofkistan's bowling lineup and will be among their key senior players.

Chamari Athapaththu's century at the Women's T20 World Cup Qualifer!

Sri Lanka

Winning this year's Asia Cup and posing arguably the biggest threat to India and Australia to claim a semi-final spot from Group A, it could almost be forgotten that the team had to take the Qualifier route to the tournament.

In 2023, Sri Lanka beat hosts South Africa on opening night in a final-over thriller at Newlands, and followed it up with a victory against Bangladesh two days later at the same venue. It put Chamari Athapaththu's side in a prime position for a top-two spot in their group, but defeats to Australia and New Zealand put paid to those hopes.

This year, there is more optimism. Alongside Athapaththu, the likes of Inoshi Priyadharshani, Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, and Inoka Ranaweera provide a solid spine, and the team should be high in confidence.

Squad

Chamari Athapaththu (c), Anushka Sanjeewani, Harshitha Madhavi, Nilakshika de Silva, Inoka Ranaweera, Hasini Perera, Kavisha Dilhari, Sachini Nisansala, Vishmi Gunaratne, Udeshika Prabodhani, Achini Kulasuriya, Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Shashini Gimhani, Ama Kanchana.

Fixtures

v Pakistan, Sharjah, 3 October

v Australia, Sharjah, 5 October

v India, Dubai, 9 October

v New Zealand, Sharjah, 12 October

Watch out for

Making 69* from 51 balls in Sri Lanka's successful chase against India in the 2024 Asia Cup Final, it was Harshitha Samarawickrama's name that was chanted around a rocking Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.

A classy left-hander who has improved her strike rate over time, expect Samarawickrama to continue pace from the No.3 position, despite middle-over field sets and tight opposition bowling.

The 26-year-old will make her 100th international appearance across formats at the tournament, but Samarawickrama is in a career purple patch in 2024, backing up the Asia Cup success with back-to-back half ce-turies in Sri Lanka's T20I series against Ireland, and runs also in the 50-over format to boot.