Healy Optimistic for T20 World Cup After Successful Bangladesh Tour
Australia’s captain, Alyssa Healy, is confident that her team’s unbeaten streak during their Bangladesh tour will provide a solid foundation for their performance in the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, set to be held in the same country.
The Australian team used their six white-ball matches against Bangladesh as a practice run for this year’s 20-over showcase. The reigning T20 World Cup champions demonstrated their prowess by sweeping both the ODI and T20I series 3-0 in a commanding fashion.
Healy expressed her satisfaction with how quickly her team adapted to the conditions in Bangladesh. She believes this adaptability will be advantageous as they aim for a fourth consecutive T20 World Cup victory later this year.
“We’re adapting really well, which is something we emphasize, whether it’s with the bat or ball. We aim to adjust to conditions swiftly,” Healy commented. “Everyone in the squad is taking something home that they can work on for when we return here in September. It’s been hugely beneficial for us.”
“The results went our way, but from a broader perspective, and what we’re building towards in September and October, I think we got everything we possibly could out of this series.”
Australia utilized the Bangladesh tour to provide a variety of opportunities to their players. Healy stepped down from her opening spot to Grace Harris in one of the T20I matches, and all-rounder Georgia Wareham surprisingly came into bat at No.3 during the same game.
The six-time Women’s T20 World Cup winners were also encouraged by the impressive comeback of spinner Sophie Molineux and pacer Tayla Vlaeminck from injuries during the tour. This provides the selectors with much to consider ahead of their return to Bangladesh in September.
“We’ve had different players of the match and different players of the series across the two series, which is really pleasing,” Healy added. “Everybody’s stepping up when they need to, and seizing opportunities, which is great.”
“It’s obviously great to have someone like Tay (Tayla) back, she’s a real point of difference within world cricket, and Soph Molineux’s consistency is outstanding. They’re both real assets to our side.”
Australia’s next challenge on their busy international schedule is against trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand on home soil in mid-September. Healy believes a good break before these matches and the start of the T20 World Cup will give her team the best chance of lifting the trophy in Bangladesh.
“We’ve got a very tired group, it’s the end of our summer and we’ve played a lot of cricket over the last few months,” Healy said. “The beauty of our schedule is that we’ve got four months at home to get ourselves fit and ready. We’ll hopefully be fresh heading into the New Zealand series and the (T20) World Cup.”