Australia Women’s T20 World Cup coach Matthew Mott declares all spots still up for grabs
With just a single warm-up match left before Australia launch their defence of the World T20 title, Matthew Mott insists there is still time for any of the 15 women squad to make a claim to face India in the competition’s opener.
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Australian women’s cricket coach Matthew Mott will be looking closely at his squad when they take to Adelaide’s Karen Rolton Oval on Tuesday for their final hitout before embarking on the quest for back-to-back T20 World Cup glory.
The side’s warm-up game against South Africa is the last chance for the coach to finetune his 15-player side and he expects fierce competition for selection with the team’s starting XI still up in the air.
“I’ve said it from the start that I think we will change up our team quite a bit, we’ve got a fair bit of travel and (are) playing on a lot of different surfaces,” Mott said.
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“Our first XI, we’re still tinkering a little bit, but we genuinely feel there are 15 players in contention for that first game … but we probably won’t decide until we get to Sydney.”
That includes all-rounder Erin Burns, who is battling a niggling knee injury.
The Aussies open their World Cup campaign against India at the Sydney Showgrounds on Friday.
Quick Megan Schutt said the hitout against South Africa was vital in the team’s preparation particularly considering the Australians’ first warm-up match against the West Indies was cancelled on Saturday due to Brisbane’s rain.
“For us to get on the field is pretty important,” she said.
“It will be nice to get out in some sunshine and Karen Rolton Oval will be similar to Manuka and if the curator’s left some grass on it, I think the bounce will not be too far off the WACA.”
The Aussies face Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Perth and Canberra, respectively, in the tournament’s pool stages.
Schutt said the team was in good spirits leading into the tournament, on the back of their Tri-Series win over England and India, despite suffering two losses in their five games.
“It took us a little while to gel together in terms of on the field, obviously we had a few moments in the Tri-Series when we thought ‘ooh, we’re a bit rusty here’, but I think we’re all happy and looking forward to the World Cup starting,” she said.
Before Monday’s training session, Schutt met with other players from different sporting codes, including basketballers, hockey players and netballers.
Adelaide Thunderbirds centre, Hannah Petty, said she wished the Aussies all the best in the World Cup.
“It’s great to see when you’re a youngster that you can grow up and choose any sport and compete at the top level and that you’re going to get recognised for that,” she said.
“Everyone’s pushing to beat the Aussies (this World Cup) because they have set the benchmark.”
Meanwhile, Mott added his side wanted to relish every moment of the tournament, including the warm-up games.
“Genuinely, the players are just so excited about what’s in front of us,” he said.
“The danger is we try and wish the tournament away and try and get to the big games (at the end), but we’ve made a really conscious effort to make sure that every opportunity we get (including) out (on Karen Rolton), we really thrive and enjoy it.”
* Australia v South Africa, Tuesday, February 18, Karen Rolton Oval, 10.30am (SA time)