THE 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is just around the corner, and will see 10 teams from across the world battle it out in South Africa to be crowned World Champions for another three years.

In the lead up to the tournament, we here at Rookie Me Central will be previewing the teams one by one, and taking a deep dive into their chances at the upcoming tournament.

Last up in our series of team previews, it is the reigning champion, Australia.

Coming into this tournament the Aussies are clear favourites for another crown, and if there is one thing that is near impossible to do in international women’s cricket at the moment, it is defeat them. In the 2022 calendar year, the Aussies only lost one T20 for the whole year, and that was to India in December.

The Australians are not only the reigning World Champions in both white ball formats, but are also the reigning Commonwealth Champions in what was a T20 competition, so they very much remain the team to beat at this tournament.

With the likes of Darcie Brown, Alana King and Annabel Sutherland making up the least capped members of the team, it goes to show the kind of calibre the team has.

The talent starts at the head.

Led once again by superstar captain Meg Lanning, she is ably supported by fellow veterans Ash Gardner, Jess Jonassen, Beth Mooney and Ellyse Perry.

Kim Garth has come on in leaps and bounds over the past few years in terms of career progression, and brings in an element of surprise for the Australians that only a select few countries have had to contend with.

Last time Garth stepped out onto the field at a World Cup, she was wearing the green of Ireland, so most countries will not know how she fits into the Australian line up and what potential consequences that may have.

There are a few injury concerns within the Aussie team heading into the tournament though, but nothing that should trouble them too much.

After picking up an injury in the India series Alyssa Healy did not play against Pakistan but has stated she should be right to go for the tournament, while Georgia Wareham has been named in the squad but has had limited matches since returning from an ACL injury a few weeks ago.

Australia Squad

Meg Lanning (c), Alyssa Healy (vc), Darcie Brown, Ash Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham

Australia Fixture (all dates local)

February 11 – New Zealand
February 14 – Bangladesh
February 16 – Sri Lanka
February 18 – South Africa