McGrath eyes strong finish to season against New Zealand
Tahlia McGrath, who has stepped into the leadership role in the absence of regular captain Alyssa Healy, is relishing the opportunity to guide the team alongside vice-captain Ash Gardner.
'I'm really excited for the opportunity to lead the side again," McGrath told reporters ahead of the first T20I in Auckland.
"I always enjoy working with Ash [Gardner] as vice-captain as well, and for us as a group, just really excited to kick off what's been a long season for us and hopefully finish on a high with a series win over here in New Zealand."
With Australia's attention largely on the upcoming ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in India later this year, the three T20Is present a unique challenge to McGrath's side. However, the skipper sees them as a valuable chance to refine their approach in the shortest format.
'It's an odd one for us. Just three T20s at this stage, with our focus being at a 50-over World Cup and also a bit of a break.
'But it's also a really good opportunity for us, with not many T20s on the international schedule before the World Cup coming up soon. Every time we get to pull on the Australian shirt, it's always a really good opportunity to go out there and keep getting better as a group.'
Read: Australia bracing for 'full strength' T20 World Cup champions New Zealand
Australia come into the series on the back of a thumping Women's Ashes series sweep against England, where they came out on top in every single game across the three formats.
McGrath expects a stern challenge from a near full-strength New Zealand side, with T20 World Cup winning big names, Sophie Devine, Melie Kerr and Lea Tahuhu making a return to the White Ferns' squad.
'They're pretty much back at full strength, New Zealand. We're expecting a really hard-fought contest, hopefully a nice crowd being double headers, and hopefully a few Aussies in the crowd. But we're going to have to be at our best.
"They've got some world-class players - Devine, Kerr, Tahuhu - all back in the side, and superstars throughout their list. We're going to be at our best and really looking forward to the challenge. Just can't wait to get started tomorrow.'
Australia have built a reputation for playing an aggressive and fearless brand of cricket over the years, an approach that has fetched them global honours over the years, and McGrath intends to continue.
'We're always talking about how we can get better. There is no limit to our game. Really looking forward to taking the game on, playing our style, playing our brand of cricket, and like I said, finishing the season on a high is what's in front of mind for most of us.'
'Brave, fearless, aggressive. We bat so deep that we can showcase our talent, play with no fear, knowing that if it doesn't come off, there's someone ready to walk out to the wicket to do the job. And same with the ball - attacking field sets, attacking mindset, aggressive nature. And yeah, just trying to push the game forward as much as we can.'
The series opener will mark a significant milestone for Beth Mooney, who is set to play her 200th international match for Australia, and McGrath was full of praise for the wicketkeeper-batter's immense contribution to the team.
'Crazy milestone for Moons [Beth Mooney]. 200 games representing your country is a very special achievement.
'She's the ultimate consistent performer. She gets us off to a brilliant start every time with the bat. She flies under the radar a bit, and she stepped up for us this year with the gloves, and has played a really good role for us there.
'She's a great team person, always looking out for her teammates. I'm really excited to take the field with her tomorrow and celebrate such a special milestone.'
Australia superstar Tahlia McGrath unites with her ICC Women's T20I Cricketer of the Year award.
With several in-form players in the squad, Australia faces the enviable challenge of fitting a wealth of talent into the playing XI. McGrath was particularly excited for some of the newer names in the setup.
'It's a blessing and a curse when you got so much talent in the squad and you're trying to fit it into 11.
'Really excited for Volly [Georgia Voll], who, every time she's put on the Australian shirt, she's shown why she's capable at this level. Really excited for Nick [Nicole Faltum], her first Australian tour, she's slotted in straight away, like she's been part of the group forever.
"So much opportunity with people to play potentially some different roles and stand up at different points throughout the series.'
Series schedule:
1st T20I, March 21, Eden Park
2nd T20I, March 23, Bay Oval
3rd T20I, March 26, Wellington Regional Stadium Australia Women News Women's News Tahlia McGrath 11/10/1995
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sharjah 24
2 hours ago
- Sharjah 24
Club World Cup ushers in new era of football
In an interview with Agence France-Presse, Infantino emphasized the "historic" nature of this new competition ahead of its launch, with the opening match set for Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, featuring Inter Miami, led by Argentine star Lionel Messi, against Egypt's Al Ahly in Group A. Infantino noted, "It's somewhat similar to when the first World Cup for national teams was launched in 1930. Today, everyone is talking about this new tournament, which is why it is historic." He recalled that 95 years ago, the inaugural men's World Cup took place in Uruguay (1930), involving only teams from Europe and South America, and stated that the Club World Cup will provide opportunities for teams outside the traditional strongholds of the sport to participate on the global stage. "Globalising Football" He continued, "The real goal is to globalize football and make it truly worldwide. When we delve into it, we say it's the number one sport in the world, and it is, but the elite is concentrated in very few clubs and very few countries." The Swiss official, who served as UEFA's Secretary General before becoming FIFA President in 2016, explained that the Club World Cup will also create opportunities for players from over 80 countries to participate. Infantino mentioned several great former players who never participated in a World Cup, stating, "Countries that never had the chance to be part of the World Cup suddenly become part of it, and the fans of those players and clubs feel included." He referenced his dear friend, Liberia's George Weah, a former legend and the only African to win the Ballon d'Or, who has never participated in a World Cup but would have the chance to compete in the Club World Cup, taking pride not just in his club but also in his country. Addressing criticism Despite facing criticism regarding the pressure on schedules at the end of a tough season for many players in Europe, Infantino defended the project. He acknowledged that the stacked matches during the Club World Cup, which runs until July 13, could strain stars like Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Harry Kane, and Erling Haaland. Infantino confidently stated, "I am convinced that once the ball starts rolling, the whole world will realize what is happening here. It will be a special event." "Stadiums will be full" He added, "We don't want empty stadiums. I am sure they will be full." In defending his project, Infantino explained that granting broadcasting rights for the Club World Cup to the streaming platform DAZN for a check of one billion dollars has already made it financially successful. Regarding the success of the tournament itself, he said, "In terms of inclusivity, economics, and fan interest, we will discuss all these criteria at the end of the Club World Cup, but right now I feel optimistic when I look at the number of tickets sold and the broadcasting rights," noting that matches are available for free on DAZN. He questioned, "Tell me about one of the major tournaments today where you can watch football for free?"
Dubai Eye
3 hours ago
- Dubai Eye
South Africa 69 runs away from winning World Test Championship
Aiden Markram scored an unbeaten century as South Africa edged tantalisingly close to an unlikely success in the World Test Championship final, needing 69 runs to dethrone Australia after reaching 213-2 at stumps on the third day at Lord's on Friday. It was a dramatic turnaround in a gripping contest where Australia set their opponents a daunting 282-run chase but South Africa made full use of an increasingly benign wicket to chip away at the target. Markram, on 102, and captain Temba Bavuma, 65 not out, will return on Saturday and look to wrap up victory after putting together the highest partnership of the match (143 not out) in pursuit of the joint second-highest winning total in test history at Lord's. Markram, who had failed to get to three figures in his previous 16 test innings, knocked the ball to all corners and was more than ably backed up by Bavuma, whose runs came despite a hamstring strain that hampered his running between the wickets. Australia will be regretting dropping him when he was on two, not only for the runs he went on to score but the fact that slip fielder Steve Smith suffered a compound dislocation of his little finger as he spilled the catch. Fortunes in the contest fluctuated through a furious opening two days, dominated by the bowlers with 24 wickets falling, but the wicket went flat on Friday and there were only four wickets taken. The Aussies resumed on 144-8 with a 218-run lead overnight and modest ambitions of adding 20 to 30 runs more in the morning. However, an unbeaten 58 from Mitchell Starc saw them bat for two hours until lunch to the frustration of South Africa before eventually being dismissed for 207 in their second innings. Nathan Lyon was dismissed in the third over of the day, trapped leg before wicket by Kagiso Rabada, but Starc and Josh Hazlewood put on a 59-run last wicket partnership before part-time bowler Markram finally dismissed Hazlewood for 17. South Africa came out to bat after lunch and saw Ryan Rickelton out for six runs as a full delivery from Starc, angling away from the left-hander, hit the toe of Rickelton's bat and flew up for a diving catch from wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Wiaan Mulder made a lively 27 before spooning the ball to cover where Marnus Labuschagne had an easy catch off Starc for the only other wicket to fall before Markram and Bavuma settled in for more than a session to offer their country hope of what had appeared an unlikely triumph.
Int'l Cricket Council
8 hours ago
- Int'l Cricket Council
Smith lauds South Africa spirit in Lord's WTC25 Final tussle
Markram, Bavuma guide SA within touching distance of glory | Day 3 Highlights | WTC25 Final After bundling out Australia in the first session, South Africa finish Day 3 only 69 runs away from a historic triumph with eight wickets in hand. Needing just a further 69 runs to win, the Proteas will continue on Day 4 through Aiden Markram (102 not out) and Temba Bavuma (65 not out), having already put on 143 runs in their third-wicket partnership. Speaking on ICC's Digital Daily alongside Crystal Arnold upon the close of day three, Smith paid tribute to the work of the Proteas, led by his modern contemporary in Bavuma. 'We've seen such ups and downs, ebbs and flows in this Test match," Smith began. "The game going back and forth, and South Africa fighting back from 75 behind in the first innings, bowling well, getting themselves back in the game. 'It's been an outstanding batting performance. I think your instinct always tends to lie when you've seen the pitch play a certain way for the first two days, your instincts are always going to back that Australian pace attack on that surface. 'And then today the pitch just looked like it really lost its life. And South Africa had to toil hard to get those two wickets. But in the end, what an innings from Aiden Markram, and a partnership as well (with Temba Bavuma). 'Bavuma the captain came in and you just kept saying 'extend that partnership, extend that partnership'. 'And that's what they've done. And 69 runs to go for a World Test Championship." Aiden Markram scores crucial century | Player Highlights | WTC25 Final South Africa opener Aiden Markram took on the Australia attack and scored a crucial century on Day 3 of the World Test Championship Final at Lord's. The pair on the whole look unflustered even in the cauldron of a World Test Championship Final at Lord's, with Markram's century stealing Day 3 headlines. Smith felt Markram would hold the key in the chase, with his natural free-scoring flow coming to the fore. 'I actually picked him at the start of this innings. I said, 'If South Africa are going to go on to do this, he's the man' because he scores. He takes the game on and you'll keep the scoreboard ticking all the time. And he's certainly done that today. 'It's an occasion like this to see him own it and to perform. Coming off a nought in the first innings, coming out second innings under pressure. 'The performance that he put in, (it) was incredible to watch right from the get-go. He looked at good positions. He had one punch of the back foot. You thought, 'Okay, the man's here today.' 'Him and Temba will be feeling drained tonight. They still have got 69 to get. But I think tonight it's important to celebrate a great partnership and an incredible hundred." Bavuma and Markram thump cracking straight drives | WTC25 Final Skipper Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram continue taking the attack to Australia on Day 3 with some scintillating stroke play. Bavuma himself went above and beyond in his side's pursuit, building the stand alongside his partner in spite of leaving runs out in the middle, having been hampered by a hamstring struggle early in his innings. Having been the rock so often in South Africa's batting pursuit throughout the World Test Championship cycle, the effort was no surprise to Smith watching on from the commentary box. 'It was always important. Temba's been I think South Africa's most consistent batter, he's looked in control. First over he obviously felt good, went up and over cover, and obviously battling the injury as well. 'And I think we mustn't underestimate that he's fought on through a sore hamstring, and really putting his country first and building that partnership with Markram. Starc produces gritty half-century | Player Highlights | WTC25 Final Mitchell Starc put on a resilient display against an in-form Proteas pace-bowling unit to help the defending champions to a 281-run lead. Smith kept a close eye on South Africa's opposition in the field, largely bereft in answers as the batting pair pressed on. The former skipper believes there was little Australia could have changed in response, though did feel a number of defensive fieldsets allowed South Africa to carry on, even with Bavuma impeded. 'I think the attack did everything they could. Maybe (Nathan) Lyon could have been a touch wider into the rough a bit more. 'He (Australian captain Pat Cummins) had quite a defensive field at times with point back and square-leg back. And I think especially with Temba's injury, they maybe needed to force the play a little bit when they still needed 150 runs to get. 'But other than that I think you have to give credit to the South Africans. I mean, I don't want to take away from their performance, today with Aiden and Temba in particular was outstanding." Proteas' Relentless Leader | Graeme Smith | ICC Hall of Fame A fearless leader who epitomises grit and resilience. Graeme Smith - a pillar of South African cricket and a leader like no other. Smith has kept a close eye on the South African setup through different roles after calling time on his international career in 2014, including a stint as director of cricket at Cricket South Africa from 2019 to 2022. Looking at the team of 2025, Smith paid tribute to a group of players who have buckled down on a quest to lift the World Test Championship mace. 'I think we've fought extremely hard over the last two to three years to really build South African cricket up again, from various people have got involved and see the team performing well on the global stage. "Everyone wrote South Africa off before this game, disappointed South Africa were in the final. "And now they sit on the brink of an opportunity to win that Final against a great Australian team. "I think this will really lift the game again in South Africa - Temba holding the mace and what that will mean for the people back home."
