A sense of finality hangs over the Australian Women’s Cricket World Cup campaign, with captain Alyssa Healy, 35, confirming this will be her last time competing in the event.
She is the oldest member of the ODI squad, alongside other long-time stalwarts like Ellyse Perry, 34, Megan Schutt, 32, and Beth Mooney, 31.
This generation has defined Australian dominance, but the future is already bright, spearheaded by two exciting 22-year-olds: Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll.
Both strong top-order batters, they have earned their places following powerful Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) campaigns.
For Voll, who recently made a courageous move from the Brisbane Heat to the Sydney Thunder for more opportunities up the order, the World Cup is a learning experience, though she is ready to seize any chance to play.
She scored 330 runs at a strike rate of 144.74 in her first season with the Thunder, a move she said changed her career.
Litchfield, already an ODI debutant and a captain in the WBBL, is relishing the chance to be a ‘kid role again’ in the national team, focusing purely on her batting and fielding without the responsibilities of leadership.
The close friends are enjoying playing together, hoping their connection will last well into the future.
They acknowledge the game is evolving, expecting a future where the T20 aggressive style is brought into the longer 50-over format.
Voll said, “It’s heading towards more like T20 style for 50-over cricket,” noting that the depth of the Australian team allows everyone to be aggressive.
With the older guard stepping aside, the next generation is ‘primed and ready to take over’ and bring ‘fireworks’ to the competition.
She is the oldest member of the ODI squad, alongside other long-time stalwarts like Ellyse Perry, 34, Megan Schutt, 32, and Beth Mooney, 31.
This generation has defined Australian dominance, but the future is already bright, spearheaded by two exciting 22-year-olds: Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll.
Both strong top-order batters, they have earned their places following powerful Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) campaigns.
For Voll, who recently made a courageous move from the Brisbane Heat to the Sydney Thunder for more opportunities up the order, the World Cup is a learning experience, though she is ready to seize any chance to play.
She scored 330 runs at a strike rate of 144.74 in her first season with the Thunder, a move she said changed her career.
Litchfield, already an ODI debutant and a captain in the WBBL, is relishing the chance to be a ‘kid role again’ in the national team, focusing purely on her batting and fielding without the responsibilities of leadership.
The close friends are enjoying playing together, hoping their connection will last well into the future.
They acknowledge the game is evolving, expecting a future where the T20 aggressive style is brought into the longer 50-over format.
Voll said, “It’s heading towards more like T20 style for 50-over cricket,” noting that the depth of the Australian team allows everyone to be aggressive.
With the older guard stepping aside, the next generation is ‘primed and ready to take over’ and bring ‘fireworks’ to the competition.