As the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 approaches, Australian all-rounder Ash Gardner has pointed out two key players she believes will have a significant impact on the tournament.
Australia, the reigning champions, are once again considered strong favorites, boasting a team that blends seasoned veterans such as Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, and Gardner herself with the next generation of cricket stars.
Gardner, in a conversation with ABC SPORT Daily, highlighted two young talents she feels will not only perform on the global stage but also shape the future of Australian cricket.
The first of these rising stars is Annabel Sutherland, who has already showcased her ability with both the bat and the ball. “We’ve seen what she’s capable of doing,” Gardner said. “She’s someone who can take the game away in both facets.”
The second player on Gardner’s radar is Phoebe Litchfield, whom she praised for her poise and skill at a young age. “She’s a very classy young kid and has shown what she’s capable of at the highest level,” Gardner said, noting Litchfield’s ability to score fifties and hundreds for Australia despite her youth. Gardner expects both Sutherland and Litchfield to become mainstays in the national team for the next decade.
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While Australia’s squad is brimming with talent, including stalwarts like Megan Schutt, Perry, and Healy, Gardner stressed that these two younger players are ones to watch in the long term. “They are going to be around for 10 years, probably lighting up the world and winning many World Cups along the way,” she predicted.
Australia enters the tournament in top form, having just completed a commanding 3-0 series sweep against New Zealand. Gardner played a pivotal role, earning the Player of the Series title despite missing one match.
Her performances included a three-wicket haul in the second game and a crucial 33 runs off 26 balls in the final match, rounding off the series with 51 runs and four wickets.
With a mix of experienced leaders and emerging stars, Australia is well-positioned to defend their title, and players like Sutherland and Litchfield could be the ones to propel them to further glory in the years to come.
