Georgia Wareham believes the Australian women’s cricket team is in an “awesome” spot, despite a sub-par performance in their first Twenty20 against India.
After going down to the women in blue by 21 runs (DLS method) in the first T20 last Sunday, Australia will want to avoid unwanted history as India look to take a bigger advantage towards winning a bilateral series down under for the first time since 2016.
Australia’s batting performance was one to forget, having finished with 133 runs – the lowest score for which they’ve been bowled out in a T20 for almost six years.
They also lost their opening game of a bilateral series at home for the first time in a decade, but Australia has a chance to right their wrongs and even the series in their second T20 on Thursday in Canberra.
Wareham has backed her team to get the job done.
“Our philosophy is to try and take the game on and break some new heights as a batting group. Obviously, you’re going to get games where it doesn’t work out, like it did the other day,” the all-rounder said ahead of the second of six T20s for Australia before the World Cup in June.
“We have players like Phoebe Litchfield and Annabelle Sutherland. Having those guys and a mix of both (experience and youth) at the moment has been really awesome.
“It’s just getting that experience from the younger girls at the moment. But, it feels like we’re in a pretty awesome spot.”
Wareham says the group wants to beat India “very badly”, with their five-wicket semi-final loss in the ODI World Cup last year firmly front of mind.
“We keep on getting reminded of that semi-final in India,” she said.
“You want to win every game. But against India, (beating them) is pretty special.”
A few players had to watch from the sidelines on Sunday after they were dropped, including vice-captain Tahlia McGrath, veteran seamer Megan Schutt, and the hard-hitting Grace Harris.
Nicola Carey was selected in McGrath’s place, but found just 12 runs in her first match since knocking back a national contract in 2023.
Wareham remained tight-lipped on whether any changes would be made.
“We’ve got players like Schutt on the bench, who’s just been amazing for Australia for a really long time,” she said.
“I know she would’ve been gutted missing out the other night.
“All the players who aren’t playing are going to be working their bums off to try to get in the 11.”
