Australia settled into a familiar role as the hunted across more than a decade of dominance that reaped six T20 world titles and a pair of 50-over trophies since 2010. But for the first time in more than seven years, the once all-conquering team enter a women’s global showpiece without carrying the weight of either the T20 or ODI world crowns.
Captain Sophie Molineux has been eager to suggest in the build up to this year’s T20 World Cup that the lack of recent silverware means the pressure is off, the shackles have been released, and the team can play with a newfound freedom. More likely Australia have arrived in England with renewed hunger and a point to prove that they remain the primary force in women’s cricket.
