| Date: 23 February Venue: Newlands, Cape Town Time: 13:00 GMT |
| Coverage: Ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sport app. Live textual content commentary and in-play video clips on the BBC Sport web site and app. |
A juggernaut, Galacticos, an “unstoppable prepare” – cricket is operating out of superlatives to explain the influence of Australia’s girls.
But maybe phrases should not wanted, as their dominance is clear within the sheer quantity of trophies they’ve received.
Meg Lanning’s facet have received 5 of the final six T20 World Cups, received the Commonwealth Games on the first time of asking and likewise maintain the 50-over world title.
Unsurprisingly, they’ve now reached one other semi-final of the Women’s T20 World Cup, taking over India at Newlands in Cape Town on Thursday.
“They are a implausible facet and so they know learn how to win,” stated former England spinner Alex Hartley on BBC Test Match Special.
“If they ever get in to robust positions, they know precisely what to do to get out of them. They are a really well-drilled unit.”
Australia are arguably one of many world’s most profitable sporting groups and in 2022, they have been solely overwhelmed as soon as throughout all codecs.
In a yr the place they thrashed England within the Ashes and the World Cup closing, they suffered a super-over defeat by India.
Since reaching the 50-over World Cup closing in 2017, the place they misplaced to England, India have steadily improved and have arguably eclipsed England because the group probably to spoil Australia’s social gathering.
“We can beat Australia, it is not that we will not beat them, as a result of we did it within the final sequence in India and we did it earlier than as nicely,” stated wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh. “We know they’re a robust group however we all know we will beat them.”
It says quite a bit about Australia’s dominance {that a} single win against them in a yr makes India probably contenders, however they’ve additionally come shut on quite a few events.
India beat Australia within the opening recreation of the T20 World Cup in 2020 earlier than dropping to them within the closing, and got here near profitable the Commonwealth Games the place there was solely a nine-run margin between the groups.
“We are enhancing our mindset, as a result of the sport is anybody’s,” stated Ghosh. “The one who’s mentally sturdy within the recreation will win.”
If Harmanpreet Kaur’s younger facet can be taught to edge the crunch moments in tight video games, they could possibly be a big risk to Australia’s dominance.
“India can actually beat them,” stated England all-rounder Georgia Elwiss on BBC Test Match Special.
“They have achieved so nicely against Australia in latest occasions. They had moments the place they actually had Australia in hassle within the Commonwealth Games closing however they only weren’t capable of get a robust sufficient grip of the sport.
“They will know they aren’t distant, it’s simply the important thing moments they should win and so they can positively recover from the road.”
India have a younger facet, boosted by 19-year-olds Shafali Verma and Ghosh, whereas 22-year-old Jemimah Rodrigues and 26-year-old Smriti Mandhana maintain the batting line-up collectively.
They additionally boast one of many event’s in-form bowlers in Renuka Singh Thakur, whose in-swing tore by way of England’s high order with a surprising 5-15, and likewise had Australia in tatters with 4-18 through the Commonwealth Games.
But Australia’s golden technology has world-class stars from 1-11 – amplified by damaging all-rounder Tahlia McGrath batting at quantity seven of their opening recreation against New Zealand.
“They are an unstoppable prepare,” stated BBC Test Match Special commentator Henry Moeran.
“They are so dominant in so many areas. It’s a relentless stream of a number of the greatest gamers on the planet.”
Their magnificence is all the way down to the funding within the skilled home set-up they applied years earlier than England and the success of the Women’s Big Bash League, their T20 franchise competitors.
“What’s spectacular is the way in which they take the drama away from video games, they all the time simply look in full management,” added Hartley.
“They are calm, they’ve the liberty of with the ability to exit and specific themselves figuring out they’ve a batter coming in subsequent who’s equally nearly as good and if not higher. It is frightening how good they’re.”
The circumstances on the grounds to date could also be one thing India may gain advantage from, with sluggish pitches and spinners dominating – however make no mistake, Australia shall be greater than ready.
“They’re an unbelievable facet. They’ve received some match-winners and world-class gamers and it will be a cracking recreation, and we will not wait,” stated Australia captain Meg Lanning.
“They’ve proven that they don’t seem to be counting on one or two gamers, they have some nice depth as nicely. So, for us as a group, we have needed to put together for all their gamers.
“We know they’re sturdy, and that form of simply makes the problem even higher and one thing we look ahead to.”
Neither group has fairly been at their greatest but, with India squandering a promising place against England, and whereas Australia are unbeaten, their high order has been inconsistent and their chases of low totals haven’t been of their traditional free-flowing model.
But if each can discover their type on the proper time, this semi-final might show to be one for the ages.
