World Cup: Australia’s meticulous preparation means rising above any Covid bumps in New Zealand

Using support staff as sub fielders at the World Cup isn’t something the Australian camp wants to think about.

Australian captain Meg Lanning says World Cups are hard to win. Picture: Mike Owen/Getty Images

Australian captain Meg Lanning is hopeful her team doesn’t have to invoke the new substitute fielders rule at the World Cup after a meticulous preparation designed to right the wrongs of the 2017 campaign.

Lanning and her teammates enjoyed a few days off in Covid-hit New Zealand after their early release from quarantine, knowing they would have to bunker down from Friday to avoid any disruptions form the virus that has forced officials to create new rules.

The International Cricket Council on Thursday revealed changes to playing conditions for the tournament in a bid to ensure all games were completed. These include teams starting matches with just nine players and being able call on support staff as sub fielders should Covid hit squads.

Lanning, having negotiated two playing bubbles in recent months for home series against India and England, which were completed without any Covid postponements, was confident her players would adapt to the requirements and they wouldn’t need to call on extra helpers.

“I did ask our physio and media manager what their preferred fielding position was,” Lanning joked on Friday, a week out from their World Cup opener against England.

“But hopefully it doesn’t come to that for any team. I understand we want to get cricket in, we want to play the games. If that did occur it would be a pretty interesting situation. Hopefully, for everyone in the tournament we don’t get to that point.

Meg Lanning (left), pictured with Beth Mooney, says teams are going to have to be flexible. Picture: Mike Owen/Getty Images

“It’s a unique situation we are in, every World Cup is being played under different conditions and it would be a nightmare trying to organise these tournaments.

“Teams are going to have to be very flexible and understanding of things that could happen at very short notice. We want to play and do everything we can to make sure games get up.”

Australia enter the tournament as favourites having won 29 of their past 30 ODIs and collected the T20 World Cup in 2020 as well.

Lanning declared there were no ghosts from that 2017 semi-final exit, a loss that prompted changes she said had helped turn Australia into a dominant one-day force.

“This group we’ve got here is very different to 2017. The majority of players we have got weren’t even involved in that tournament and the majority of the staff also weren’t there,” she said.

“It’s a completely different group and the impacts of 2017, that World Cup, has changed the way we have played. But for now we have a new team, a different way of playing and it’s a new World Cup for everyone.

“We all start on zero points and we are just trying to ensure we play our best cricket. We don’t talk about 2017 anymore. we’re on a new journey together.”

Reading 9 Fit players will be required to compete a Womens WC game !! Proof once again that playing a WC in the strictest area for Covid is utterly wrong .. !!

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 24, 2022

The Australian squad had its first full training session on Friday ahead of a practice match against the West Indies on Sunday.

“There was a bit of a buzz around the group, knowing the World Cup is here, it’s super exciting. Everyone was great and had good energy,” Lanning said.

“The planning that has gone into what this week looks like was well thought out and we feel like that will give us the best preparation.

“World Cups are extremely hard to win. What has happened in the previous couple of years is irrelevant.

“We feel very confident with our game style, but that doesn’t mean anything when we start the tournament.

“We know what’s important is what’s coming up in the next six weeks.”

Australia’s ODI World Cup 2022 fixtures:

Mar 5: v England, Seddon Park, Hamilton, 12pm AEDT

Mar 8: v Pakistan, Bay Oval, Tauranga, 12pm AEDT

Mar 13: v New Zealand, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 15: v West Indies, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 19: v India, Eden Park, Auckland, 12pm AEDT

Mar 22: v South Africa, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 25: v Bangladesh, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT