Australia captain Meg Lanning said her side is ready to embark on a new journey as four of the skippers at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 addressed their opening Media Conferences in Christchurch on Friday.
Lanning reflected on the changes that had been made since Australia lost to eventual runners-up India in the 2017 semi-final. The 2020 T20 World Cup winner was speaking alongside the captains of Pakistan, South Africa and the West Indies.
“This group that we’ve got here is very different to 2017. I think the majority of the players were not even involved in the tournament, and the majority of the staff also weren’t there,” Lanning said.
“The impacts of the 2017 World Cup have obviously changed the way we play but, from now really moving forward, this World Cup is completely different.
“It’s a new World Cup, everybody starts on zero points and needs to play well throughout the tournament. It’s a great challenge for our group but, to be honest, we don’t really talk about 2017 anymore. It obviously had a big impact on us but now it’s a completely different group, and we’re on a new journey together.”
Lanning also revealed the potential replacements in the team, should Australia need to field members of management staff as permitted by a rule for the tournament.
The ICC announced yesterday that teams could field a side of nine players and include two female substitutes from their management staff, to ensure the competition runs as normally as possible.
Lanning added: “I asked our physio and media manager what their preferred fielding position were if they were to take the field. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that for any team. It’s an interesting way to go about it and I understand we want to get cricket in, we want to play the games. But if that did occur, I think it’d be pretty interesting situation.”
The tournament kicks off on 4 March with hosts New Zealand taking on the West Indies and their captain Stafanie Taylor is looking forward to the challenge.
She said: “We’re really excited about that. You probably wouldn’t want to play the hosts in the first game but it’s what it is.
“I think for us, we have to go out there and play to the best of our abilities. You can see New Zealand doing pretty well, we’ve had a lot of cricket to look at, so hopefully we could get one over them. I think we starting first, you really want to start good, but you have to try and focus on us and nothing else.”
After the West Indies finished sixth at the last World Cup in 2017, Taylor is taking each game as it comes with all eight sides facing off against each other to determine the semi-finalists.
“For us it’s more trying to be consistent as best as we can in 50-over format,” Taylor added.
“We know that It’s not always the best for us and I think we’re making strides. For us, it is more about improving every time and getting better at that. So not to look too far ahead but try to take each game step by step.”
While Taylor is not setting a target for her side, Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof has her eyes on a top four spot, and something bigger. With Pakistan taking on big rivals India in their opening game, Maroof knows the impact the match will have.
She said: “I think this World Cup is very important to us and we really want to make it count. I hope this World Cup will provide further boost for the women’s game. I hope we will have some great matches.
“India-Pakistan is the most followed match around the world, and we definitely want the girls to be inspired and I hope this match is an interesting one. The girls who are looking up to us will be inspired.”
“Coming into this World Cup, we have set a goal – to reach the semi-finals. If you’re not aiming for that then there is no point of playing. The girls are in good shape and they know what the expectations for them are and hopefully we can do well as a team.”
Maroof has already seen changes back home and is ready to keep pushing as she makes her World Cup return after having her daughter.
“I think we have a bright future, the mindset has changed in Pakistan and the girls want to play cricket, they want to play professional cricket. That mindset has changed, and I hope we can inspire a lot of girls in Pakistan after this World Cup by putting on a good show.”
After disappointment in the previous ODI and T20 semi-finals, South Africa’s Sune Luus’s focus is making it to the showpiece event in Christchurch on 4 April.
Luus said: “In the semi-finals, there’s been a lot of pressure and we didn’t always handle that well, but I feel like we’ve been through three big semifinals now and I don’t think our hearts can take another close semi-final.
“I think if we get to the semi-final stage again, we’re going to make sure we push through even if it’s the last thing we do, so we’re going to try our best to get to the final.”
And South Africa will have plenty of practice as the Proteas treat every match as if it is their last.
“Obviously, coming to a World Cup all the teams are bringing their best squads, so I don’t think you can single out any team. On the day, when a team shines, they can beat any team around the world,” Luus added.
“I think every team here is very competitive and a very strong side, so we’re going to take each team like it comes and play every game like a final.”
With thanks to the ICC
