Women’s World Cup 2022: Australia SWOT Analysis

Australian Women’s team is the most successful side in the history of Women’s World Cups as the team from has won record six titles out of the 11 editions played. Notably, Australia completed a hat-trick of titles in 1978, 1982, and 1988. Their last success came in the penultimate tournament held in India in 2013. Meg Lanning will lead her side in the twelfth edition starting from March 4, 2022, in New Zealand with an eye to clinch the seventh WC trophy.

Australia women’s squad for WC 2022: Meg Lanning (c), Darcie Brown, Rachael Haynes, Grace Harris, Nicola Carey, Alana King, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Megan Schutt, Ellyse Perry, Anabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Ashleigh Gardner.

Here’s the SWOT analysis of Australia’s squad for the Women’s World Cup 2022:

Strengths: The experienced top order comprising of Alyssa Healy, Rachael Haynes, Meg Lanning, and Ellyse Perry looks solid and full of runs. Even the middle order of Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, and Beth Mooney looks dangerous as the side is well-settled until the number seven position. Australian teams are known for winning the World Cups, be it men’s or women’s, and with the female side having lifted record six trophies, the experience of performing in a big event gives an edge to the Australian side as well.

Weakness: The team will miss the services of key players like Sophie Molineux, Tayla Vlaeminck and Georgia Wareham due to their respective injuries. The opposition sides may well look to target the change seamers in the form of Nicola Carey and Annabel Sutherland. Also, the spinners Amanda-Jade Wellington and Alana King are relatively inexperienced as the duo has played just 15 ODIs and share just 17 wickets in between them.

Opportunities: All-rounder Tahlia McGrath has played 11 ODI matches and she has a chance to cement her place in the side with solid performances in the upcoming World Cup. The promising and versatile right-handed batter has played at different positions for her side including the crucial no. 3 spot. Australia will look to build their side around her as the World Cup presents the perfect opportunity for McGrath, who made her ODI debut in 2016, to make a solid mark.

Threats: The six-time World Cup champions are heavy favourites for the upcoming edition and with the favourites tag, they need to ensure they don’t crumble under the weight of expectations. They lost the semi-final of the last edition in 2017 against India and with them being considered again as the likely champions, the expectations and that tag could well spoil their campaign like last time out five years back.