With the forthcoming 9th edition of the Twenty20 (T20) World Cup just around the corner, 6-time and defending champions Australia have named their squad of 15 for the mega 10-team event, scheduled from October 3 to 20, 2024, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The selectors have retained the squad that last took the field during a bilateral series against Bangladesh in March-April 2024. The return of fit-again Darcie Brown strengthens Australia’s pace attack, which already includes Tayla Vlaeminck, Kim Garth, and Megan Schutt.
However, this consistency in selection also means there’s no place for the in-form spin all-rounder Jess Jonassen, who last played a T20I in October 2023 and an international match in December 2023. Despite her success in domestic and leading T20 leagues since her exclusion, Jonassen remains sidelined, largely due to the return of young spin all-rounder Sophie Molineux, with Alana King, Georgia Wareham, and Ashleigh Gardner also filling the frontline spinner roles.
Young prodigy Phoebe Litchfield has also made the cut and is set for her maiden World Cup appearance, alongside veteran batters Beth Mooney, Grace Harris, and Alyssa Healy and seasoned all-rounders in Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, and Tahlia McGrath.
Australia’s squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup:
Alyssa Healy (C), Tahlia McGrath (VC), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Tayla Vlaeminck
Australia will play three T20Is against New Zealand leading up to the World Cup, featuring the same squad plus Heather Graham, and warm-up matches against Scotland and England. In the main event, they are placed in Group A and will face Sri Lanka in their opening fixture on October 4, followed by matches against Pakistan, New Zealand, and India.
