Aussies under pressure in abnormally open T20 World Cup

[p]A 12-team competition where the teams are split into two pools of six ought to be without a 'group of death'.[/p][p]But women's cricket heavyweights [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/OdGMnbwf/"]Australia[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/india/pC4Vpx86/"]India[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-africa/A52vg00Q/"]South Africa[/a] are all in Group One and, with only the top two advancing to the semi-finals, one of the trio will be heading home before a knockout phase that culminates in a Lord's final on July 5.[/p][p]A Group Two featuring defending champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/6L5RoIh0/"]New Zealand[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/6ylAmvOm/"]England[/a] looks more straightforward, albeit both teams will be wary of the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/west-indies/CEl6lK8s/"]West Indies[/a], tournament winners back in 2016 but rarely hitting such heights in recent times.[/p][p]Meanwhile, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ireland/E11UqdQI/"]Ireland[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/scotland/QwUcSTfo/"]Scotland[/a] and the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/netherlands/YTInyMbo/"]Netherlands[/a] will all fly the flag for European cricket alongside established Asian nations such as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/pakistan/WWbeodNC/"]Pakistan[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sri-lanka/ANcapGxJ/"]Sri Lanka[/a].[/p][p]The growth of white-ball competitions such as Australia's Big Bash, England's Hundred and India's Women's Premier League means top female cricketers are now exposed to top-level competition outside of major international tournaments as never before.[/p][p]Australia have dominated the women's game for decades, but for the first time since 2018 the six-time T20 champions do not have global silverware to defend.[/p][p]"[b]I think it can free us up if we harness that,[/b]" said Australia captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/molineux-sophie/OhVS2JbA/"]Sophie Molineux[/a].[/p][p]"[b]The last couple of World Cups we've learnt a whole lot from that and been able to implement a few things. I feel like we've really evolved as a team in the last few months.[/b]"[/p][p]But in appointing left-arm spinner Molineux, troubled by back problems, as skipper in succession to retired all-time great [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/healy-alyssa/Q3f38OEl/"]Alyssa Healy[/a], Australia may have created a problem for themselves, with talented leg-spinner [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/king-alana/YyLRwXn9/"]Alana King[/a] set to be omitted from the team.[/p][embed guid="7a201e87-fd21-41b4-b9ca-37a9e73206ed" url="https://x.com/cricketcomau/status/2064494911660138700" social-type="twitter" /][p]India are the 50-over world champions and boast some of the best batters in women's cricket in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mandhana-smriti/pt6oJBHH/"]Smriti Mandhana[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bhatia-yastika/Mo7D9UJI/"]Yastika Bhatia[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rodrigues-jemimah/vcAKC9fo/"]Jemimah Rodrigues[/a], with the big-hitting [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kaur-harmanpreet/AsnxCBj0/"]Harmanpreet Kaur[/a] leading the side.[/p][p]They have been inconsistent since arriving for a bilateral series with tournament hosts England but remain capable of beating any side on their day, with defiant skipper Kaur, asked by a reporter on Sunday if, at the age of 37, this might be her last global tournament: "[b]You think I should stop?[/b]"[/p][p]South Africa have reached the last three major women's finals but have still recalled two veterans out of retirement in fast bowler [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ismail-shabnim/KER2PVGP/"]Shabnim Ismail[/a] and batter [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-niekerk-dane/SMHbKLD0/"]Dane van Niekerk[/a].[/p][p]Ismail holds the record for the fastest ball ever bowled in women's international cricket -- 128 kmh (80 mph) against the West Indies in 2016.[/p][p]New Zealand will be bidding farewell to two all-time greats in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bates-suzie/vcBlBZIP/"]Suzie Bates[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/devine-sophie/KfTz4iBa/"]Sophie Devine[/a] at this tournament, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tahuhu-lea/rBqofyqR/"]Lea Tahuhu[/a] also set to retire as well.[/p][p]The surprise champions of 2024, the pressure appears to be off New Zealand this time around.[/p][image alt="T20 World Cup Group A" id="dc9f40e1-41e1-46fe-b87b-d8f597dd82f4" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="0fc5b5c2-5f5b-401a-bcf4-a359885982dc" original-width="1080" original-height="1350" /][p]England Women have won every World Cup on home soil but they are without a world title of any kind since their 2017 50-over triumph at Lord's.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dean-charlie/UH5nFuw5/"]Charlotte Edwards[/a], a serial winner as England captain, was appointed as coach following the team's humiliating 16-0 loss in the 2024/25 multi-format Ashes.[/p][p]Nevertheless, she has kept faith with many of the same players who were badly exposed in Australia and whose nerve has repeatedly failed them in knockout games.[/p][p]But Edwards, speaking after announcing an England squad led by all-rounder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sciver-natalie/biguioPi/"]Nat Sciver-Brunt[/a] and featuring 21-year-olds [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kemp-freya/bHia9Tnb/"]Freya Kemp[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/capsey-alice/tY45p14a/"]Alice Capsey[/a], said: "[b]It's a very different side to the one that walked out in the last game of the Ashes... We've seen a real confidence build in those players. A real belief.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="f53ff0f4-703f-465e-953d-7bbcceaf734c" url="https://x.com/StarSportsIndia/status/2064882811467964755" social-type="twitter" /]