Australian captain Meg Lanning says nothing short of winning T20 World Cup is acceptable

While there are six new players in the Australian squad from its last T20 World Cup triumph, the demand for ultimate glory remains the same.

Australian captain Meg Lanning has declared “nothing short of a three-peat” of T20 World Cup titles will be considered acceptable for a team which has introduced high-quality new “threats” as it looks to continue its complete domination of the tournament.

Lanning is already a four-time World Cup winner, including three as captain among Australia’s five triumphs in seven T20 World Cups since the first tournament in 2009.

The Aussies, who didn’t lose a single T20 through 2022 and have started 2023 with a dominant series win over Pakistan, have taken a squad away to the latest T20 World Cup with six different players from the group which was victorious at the MCG in 2020, a match played in front of more than 86,000 people.

Among those new players are the No.1-ranked batter in the world and reigning ICC T20 player of the year Tahlia McGrath and powerhouse batter Grace Harris, who Lanning believes could take the World Cup by storm.

It’s the addition of those new “threats” including teenage fast bowler Darcie Brown which has the Australians as raging favourites to win a third title in a row and a fourth in the past five World Cups

“Our squad has gone through a period of change since the last World Cup, but I think that is a positive,” Lanning said ahead of Australia’s Cup opener against New Zealand on February 11.

“We are constantly evolving and have great flexibility in our team at the moment, both with bat and ball.

Meg Lanning and the Aussies celebrate their 2020 World Cup win. Picture: Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

“Our preparation has been key in exploring different threats as well as providing the newer members of our squad with experience at international level.

“(The 2020 win) was an experience that will stay with me until the day I die ... and nothing less than the three-peat will suffice.”

Lanning conceded conditions in South Africa, where the Aussies have never played (a 2020 series was cancelled), pose a new challenge for her all-conquering group.

Two warm-up matches give the defending champions the chance to adjust to the new surroundings, as well as an opportunity for vice-captain Alyssa Healy to prove she has overcome a calf injury.

“It will be the first time I and most of the squad have been to South Africa,” Lanning said.

“A new country brings new challenges, most notably adjusting to the conditions. But the one thing we have proven over the years is that our most valuable weapon is adaptability, both in training and on the field.”

Tahlia McGrath was named world T20 player of the year by the ICC. Picture: Matt King / Getty Images

While Australia boasts a squad of established stars like Lanning, Healy, Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney, the captain said Harris, who didn’t get to bat in the recent series against Pakistan, could be a new weapon in their title defence.

“She is one of the world’s biggest hitters; she is someone who can do things other people can’t,” Lanning told the T20 World Cup website.

“She is very powerful, hits the ball a long way and, particularly in this format, can take the game away from the opposition in a very short space of time. No score is safe, especially when Grace is at her best.

“T20 cricket is really all about role playing and our preparation has been key in exploring different threats as well as providing the newer members of our squad with experience at international level.”

Australia’s T20 World Cup fixtures

Feb 11: v New Zealand, Boland Park, Paarl, 7pm local (4am Feb 12 AEDT)

Feb 14: v Bangladesh, St George’s Park, Gqeberha, 7pm local (4am Feb 15 AEDT)

Feb 16: v Sri Lanka, St George‘s Park, Gqeberha, 3pm local (12am Feb 17 AEDT)

Feb 18: v South Africa, St George’s Park, Gqeberha, 7pm local (4am Feb 19 AEDT)

Originally published as Australian captain Meg Lanning says nothing short of winning T20 World Cup is acceptable