World Cup 2022 | Team Australia | Complete Squad Analysis | SWOT
Written By: Ritwika Dhar, Jeet Vachharajani
Date: 24-02-2022
Picture Courtesy: Cricket Queens
BRIEF HISTORY
- 6-time Champions in 50-over World Cup
- Most number of World cups won in the history of Cricket (men’s/women’s)
- Last time when New Zealand hosted the World Cup in 2000, Australia lost the finals against the hosts by 4 runs
- Belinda Clark scored the first double-century (229) in international cricket in World Cup 1997 against Denmark in India
- Lyn Fullston is the all-time leading wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup
Previous World Cup Appearances: 1973, 1978, 1982, 1988, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017
Best Finish: Winner – 1978, 1982, 1988, 1997, 2005, 2013
CURRENT FORM
- They created a 26-match winning streak in the ODIs since 2018 which was broken by India last year
- Winner of the 2017-2020 ODI Championship
- Currently ranked #1 team in the ICC’s ODI rankings
- Retained the Ashes on their home soil earlier this month
SQUAD:
STRENGTHS
Impeccable batting depth: A batting depth of almost 9 players is something that allows the top-order bats to attack and go after the bowlers.
Plenty of all-rounders: And the given batting depth basically comes from the amounts of all-rounders they have in their team. Apart from the captain, her deputy, and the wicket-keepers, all the players in the team are all-rounders.
WEAKNESSES
Batting collapses in recent times: Despite all the success and dominance, their top-order batters have often failed in the last two-three series. That is why in recent times, their lower middle-order has looked better and saved them in crisis.
Pressure of being the best: The 6-time ODI World Cup Champions are the favourites to win this World Cup. But being the best also comes with a lot of responsibilities and expectations. And to keep up with those expectations and with the standards, it becomes intimidating and demanding.
Star players’ on and off form: Players like Healy, Perry, Lanning were not at their best in recent times. But in the Ashes, many of these players got some big runs which will be a sigh of relief for them.
OPPORTUNITIES
Pace-friendly conditions: The kind of pace attack they have, the pacers will enjoy the windy conditions of New Zealand.
Young bowlers to show their colours: A lot of young bowlers have been picked in the squad. Injuries to Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham, and Sophie Molineux opened up a golden opportunity for Darcie Brown, Grace Harris, and Alana King to prove their mettle and to cement their spots in the national squad as well.
THREATS
Looking penetrable: In the last three series, Australia didn’t perform the way they are known to. While they ended up winning the series, it was very noticeable how they were being pushed and almost suffered defeats in their own backyard.
KEY PLAYERS
Meg Lanning: Look no beyond than skipper Meg Lanning. She averages 68.3 in ODIs in New Zealand which is only second to Karen Rolton’s 69.1.
Tahlia McGrath: This all-rounder has played a pivotal role in Australia’s recent success against India and England. Her dream run with both bat and bowl can bring a few wins for her team.
Alana King: After Georgia Wareham got injured, King was picked in the Ashes squad ahead of the WBBL 07 highest wicket-taker, Amanda Wellington. She went on to make her debut in all 3 formats. Her growth both in the WBBL, and in the internationals has been very impressive.
Beth Mooney: From opening to a role in the middle-order, from having a broken jaw to taking spectacular catches, the world has seen the value she adds. Certainly, we’ll see her do similar things in the World Cup as well.
Darcie Brown: This teenage sensation with her 120+ km/h pace and bounce took world cricket by storm. She has already taken two 4 wicket hauls in her short career so far.
Likely Starting XI: Alyssa Healy (wk), Rachael Haynes, Meg Lanning, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Ash Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown, Alana King
*For the complete schedule of the World Cup, check out the Schedule section of our page, Cricket Queens. World Cup Fixtures
World Cup 2022 | Team Australia | Complete Squad Analysis | SWOT
Written By: Ritwika Dhar, Jeet Vachharajani
Date: 24-02-2022
Picture Courtesy: Cricket Queens
BRIEF HISTORY
- 6-time Champions in 50-over World Cup
- Most number of World cups won in the history of Cricket (men’s/women’s)
- Last time when New Zealand hosted the World Cup in 2000, Australia lost the finals against the hosts by 4 runs
- Belinda Clark scored the first double-century (229) in international cricket in World Cup 1997 against Denmark in India
- Lyn Fullston is the all-time leading wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup
Previous World Cup Appearances: 1973, 1978, 1982, 1988, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017
Best Finish: Winner – 1978, 1982, 1988, 1997, 2005, 2013
CURRENT FORM
- They created a 26-match winning streak in the ODIs since 2018 which was broken by India last year
- Winner of the 2017-2020 ODI Championship
- Currently ranked #1 team in the ICC’s ODI rankings
- Retained the Ashes on their home soil earlier this month
SQUAD:
STRENGTHS
Impeccable batting depth: A batting depth of almost 9 players is something that allows the top-order bats to attack and go after the bowlers.
Plenty of all-rounders: And the given batting depth basically comes from the amounts of all-rounders they have in their team. Apart from the captain, her deputy, and the wicket-keepers, all the players in the team are all-rounders.
WEAKNESSES
Batting collapses in recent times: Despite all the success and dominance, their top-order batters have often failed in the last two-three series. That is why in recent times, their lower middle-order has looked better and saved them in crisis.
Pressure of being the best: The 6-time ODI World Cup Champions are the favourites to win this World Cup. But being the best also comes with a lot of responsibilities and expectations. And to keep up with those expectations and with the standards, it becomes intimidating and demanding.
Star players’ on and off form: Players like Healy, Perry, Lanning were not at their best in recent times. But in the Ashes, many of these players got some big runs which will be a sigh of relief for them.
OPPORTUNITIES
Pace-friendly conditions: The kind of pace attack they have, the pacers will enjoy the windy conditions of New Zealand.
Young bowlers to show their colours: A lot of young bowlers have been picked in the squad. Injuries to Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham, and Sophie Molineux opened up a golden opportunity for Darcie Brown, Grace Harris, and Alana King to prove their mettle and to cement their spots in the national squad as well.
THREATS
Looking penetrable: In the last three series, Australia didn’t perform the way they are known to. While they ended up winning the series, it was very noticeable how they were being pushed and almost suffered defeats in their own backyard.
KEY PLAYERS
Meg Lanning: Look no beyond than skipper Meg Lanning. She averages 68.3 in ODIs in New Zealand which is only second to Karen Rolton’s 69.1.
Tahlia McGrath: This all-rounder has played a pivotal role in Australia’s recent success against India and England. Her dream run with both bat and bowl can bring a few wins for her team.
Alana King: After Georgia Wareham got injured, King was picked in the Ashes squad ahead of the WBBL 07 highest wicket-taker, Amanda Wellington. She went on to make her debut in all 3 formats. Her growth both in the WBBL, and in the internationals has been very impressive.
Beth Mooney: From opening to a role in the middle-order, from having a broken jaw to taking spectacular catches, the world has seen the value she adds. Certainly, we’ll see her do similar things in the World Cup as well.
Darcie Brown: This teenage sensation with her 120+ km/h pace and bounce took world cricket by storm. She has already taken two 4 wicket hauls in her short career so far.
Likely Starting XI: Alyssa Healy (wk), Rachael Haynes, Meg Lanning, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Ash Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown, Alana King
*For the complete schedule of the World Cup, check out the Schedule section of our page, Cricket Queens. World Cup Fixtures