The Australian Women’s Cricket team will be back on the pitch on Friday March 21 when a three-match T20I series against New Zealand kicks off in Auckland.
The two teams are the last winners of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, with New Zealand claiming victory in 2024, and Australia coming out on top in 2023. The Australian Women’s Team Head Coach Shelley Nitschke says the Aussie team is “happy to be here [in Auckland]” and that the team will be putting everything into delivering their best performance, particularly given NZ’s strong track record.
“They’re going to be coming at us pretty hard, obviously,” Nitschke told media at an Auckland press conference on Wednesday. “They’re the T20 world champs. They’re back to full strength… so it should be an exciting contest.”
In addition to Phoebe Litchfield, Annabel Sutherland and Beth Mooney, coach Nitschke says Alana King’s bowling performance will be particularly “important” in coming days after her impressive deliveries during the Ashes against England earlier this year.
“Kingy brings a lot of energy. She’s had an amazing Ashes series, bowls some amazing balls, and she brings a lot of energy,” Nitschke told Draw Your Box during the press conference
“So I expect her role to be really important,” she continued, adding that in NZ there will be different conditions to play in, but she has no doubt that King will bring her A-game.
“Some slightly different conditions over here, but we certainly know with Kingy that when she’s given opportunity, she grabs it with both hands, and brings her best and is a bundle of energy out there. And you certainly know when the ball’s in her hands, something’s going to happen.”
Indian Australian cricketer King made headlines earlier this year when she was named Player of the Match at the Second ODI (One Day International) during the Women’s Ashes. She made headlines on Day 3 for bowling one of her best deliveries, which at the time, was touted as “Warne-like” by former Aussie cricketer Brett Lee. The leg spinner was later awarded the Peden-Archdale Medal as Player of the Series after finishing the seven matches with 23 wickets. As ESPN reports, it’s the most by a bowler alongside Ash Gardner, who also picked up 23 in the previous Ashes in 2023.
In February, she was named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month, and said she was “proud to have played a role” in Australia’s Ashes success.
“It’s been a big summer for the girls and we’re obviously really pleased to have retained the Ashes the way we did,” King said at the time.
“I was proud to have played a role in that success and will remember that series, in particular the Test match for a long time.
“There’s no bigger stage than an Ashes Test on the MCG and I’m so grateful to have been a part of it.”
Alana King. From the Shane Warne Stand end.#Ashes pic.twitter.com/2Hb3umbKaE
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 1, 2025
The three-match T20I series between Australia and New Zealand will take place on March 21 (Eden Park, Auckland) March 23 (Bay Oval, Tauranga) and March 26 (Sky Stadium, Wellington).
The Australian squad includes Tahlia McGrath (captain), Ashleigh Gardner (vice-captain), Darcie Brown, Nicole Faltum, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll and Georgia Wareham.
The New Zealand squad includes Suzie Bates (captain), Eden Carson, Sophie Devine, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Georgia Plimmer and Lea Tahuhu.
Australian cricket fans can catch the action at 12:45pm AEDT on each of the above days on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports.
Top image source: Supplied/Cricket Australia
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