New Delhi: Lanning picks Healy Litchfield as openers in her preferred Australia XI to start their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 campaign. The team will face New Zealand on October 1 in Indore. This selection reflects a mix of experience and youthful aggression at the top of the order.
Speaking on The ICC Review, Lanning explained her choices. She also discussed the challenges of balancing experience with form and the selection dilemmas facing Alyssa Healy’s side. The captain emphasized the importance of a strong opening pair to set the tone for the innings.
Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield form a dynamic partnership. “Healy and Litchfield have shown they can dominate at the top,” Lanning said. Their aggressive style complements the middle-order stability provided by Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Ash Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, and Tahlia McGrath. “The middle order takes care of itself with Perry, Mooney, Gardner, Sutherland, and McGrath,” she added.
Mooney’s dual role as a wicketkeeper adds depth to the squad. “She can also take over the gloves if the need arises,” Lanning noted, highlighting Australia’s flexibility in team composition.
Bowling selection remains the bigger puzzle. Lanning emphasized variety and adaptability. “Picking the right bowlers is crucial,” she said. “Darcie Brown brings extra pace, while leg spinners Alana King and Georgia Wareham provide control and variation. They have performed well in the ongoing series against India and past tournaments.”
Lanning also stressed that pitch conditions in Indore will guide final decisions. “If the pitch spins, we might add another spinner. If the conditions favor quicks, Darcie Brown and Kim Garth will come in. We will adjust based on the wicket,” she explained.
She warned that New Zealand will pose a strong challenge. Fresh from winning the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, the White Ferns aim for a historic double. “They have match winners with experience, and on the big stage, they can deliver. When I played against them, they always made it a tough contest,” Lanning concluded.
Australia’s lineup reflects a blend of aggression, experience, and adaptability. By opening with Healy and Litchfield, Lanning signals her intent to start the World Cup strongly. Fans and analysts will closely watch how this dynamic partnership sets the pace against New Zealand and potentially shapes Australia’s campaign in the tournament.
–IANS
