Rachael Haynes issues warning not to take World Cup glory for granted

Australia might be hot favourites heading into next month’s ICC T20 Cricket World Cup, but vice-captain Rachael Haynes says complacency will not be accepted as they attempt to defend their crown.

(L-R) Beth Mooney, Jess Jonassen, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Ellyse Perry, Rachael Haynes, Tayla Vlaeminck, Megan Schutt, Delissa Kimmince and Erin Burns pose for a photograph during the Women's T20 cricket squad announcement.

Australian vice-captain Rachael Haynes has warned her side not to get too complacent ahead of next month’s ICC T20 Cricket World Cup.

The national team may be ranked No. 1 in all formats of the game, but the veteran batter knows World Cups are a completely different beast.

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“A match can be taken away from you like that, it’s unforgiving, and we’ve experienced it before,” Haynes said.

“At the last 50-over World Cup, (India’s) Harmanpreet Kaur came out and had an amazing innings — all of a sudden we were knocked out in the semi-finals stage. It was tough.”

The Australians expect to be tested early in the tournament when they take on the likes of New Zealand, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka in the group stage.

Haynes believes the international WBBL stars who dominated Down Under will share intel on the Australians with their respective national teams.

(From left) Beth Mooney, Jess Jonassen, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Ellyse Perry, Rachael Haynes, Tayla Vlaeminck, Megan Schutt, Delissa Kimmince and Erin Burns are members of the 15-player squad to take part in the ICC T20 World Cup 2020.

“We certainly won’t be taking anything for granted. If you get too far ahead of yourself, you’ll lose focus pretty quickly,” she said.

Selectors have stuck with 13 of the 15 players from the Australian squad that won the World Cup two years ago in the Caribbean for the tournament kicking off on February 21.

Teen sensation Annabel Sutherland and experienced all-rounder Erin Burns have worked their way into the mix after sensational WBBL seasons.

Rachael Haynes says the Aussies will need to be at the top of their game if they are to defend their crown.

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

Australia will head into the World Cup as hot favourites.

Matthew Mott’s side have won 23 of 26 T20 matches since January 2018 — including the 2018 T20 World Cup.

Haynes admitted Australia will feel pressure to go back to back.

“There's always a lot of expectation when you play cricket for Australia … but we’ve got to embrace that expectation,” Haynes said.

“When it’s getting tight, if we need something to swing in our favour, we know the Australian public will get right behind us.”

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Australia might dominate the women’s game on Sunday, but Haynes believes other national teams are starting to catch up.

When Australia won the Ashes last year, the English and Wales Cricket Board committed £20 million to grow the women’s game abroad.

New Zealand has also gave its top female cricketers a pay rise and India pays their women’s team full-time wages.

“We’re leading the way in setting the benchmark for women’s cricket, and it pushes other countries to do well too,” Haynes said.

“We definitely want it to be a really good contest at that level, it’s been a positive for some international players coming over and excelling at WBBL.”