Three-time defending champions of the Women's T20 World Cup, Australia, are gearing up for next month’s tournament in the UAE by shaking off any rust and adjusting to the heat in a warm-up series against New Zealand, starting Thursday in Mackay.
The Australian women’s team has had an unusually long break from international cricket, with their last series taking place during the limited-overs tour of Bangladesh in March and April.
Several members of the squad have stayed active by playing in the Women’s Hundred in the UK in August, but only Tahlia McGrath from Australia’s 15-member squad participated in a recent Australia A series against India A. Unlike Australia, other teams like Pakistan, South Africa, England, and Ireland have been busy with international cricket. New Zealand, Australia’s warm-up opponents, had an extended tour of England in June and July.
Phoebe Litchfield, who represented the Northern Superchargers in the Hundred, is optimistic that the champions won’t be too rusty, given that most of the players have stayed engaged in cricket during the winter. However, she acknowledged the need for heat acclimation before heading to the UAE.
Litchfield mentioned, "It’s going to be hot, similar to Bangladesh," and emphasised the team's focus on preparing for the heat over the next week and a half. She expressed confidence that the Australian team is well-suited to perform in high temperatures.
While the squad is disappointed that the tournament was moved from Bangladesh due to security concerns, Litchfield said they had learned valuable lessons about playing in Bangladesh from their earlier tour. She admitted it was unfortunate they wouldn’t be returning, but noted Dubai would provide a challenging environment. "It’s going to be 37 degrees Celsius, but it’ll feel like 45," she said, adding to the anticipation of the tough conditions awaiting them.
At 21, Litchfield has yet to play in a World Cup. Although she made her international debut before the 2023 World Cup in South Africa, she wasn’t part of the squad that went on to win the tournament. Last summer, she enjoyed an extended run in the middle order and shone against the West Indies, but only played two of the three T20Is in Bangladesh.
Uncertain if she will be in the starting lineup for the New Zealand series or the World Cup, Litchfield believes she’ll likely be positioned in the middle order. "I expect it will be similar to what I’ve been doing before if I get the chance," she said, hoping to build on the foundation laid by the top order.
Both Australia and New Zealand arrived in Mackay on Monday, with the first two matches of the warm-up series scheduled for Thursday and Sunday. The teams will then head to Brisbane for the final match next Tuesday before flying directly to the UAE on Wednesday to continue their World Cup preparations.