When the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 kicks off in the subcontinent later this month, all eyes will be on Australia and its skipper, Alyssa Healy.
The reigning champions, who have lifted the trophy an unmatched seven times, will begin their campaign on October 1 in Indore against New Zealand. But before the showpiece event, Australia will have a crucial away assignment, a three-match ODI series against India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, from September 14 to 20. For Healy, not only does this tour set the tone for the World Cup, but it also offers her side a chance to prove a point in conditions that demand both adaptability and resilience.
The Australian captain, now 35 and an experienced wicketkeeper-batter, made it clear that she trusts her squad to perform under varied challenges in India and Sri Lanka. “I’m looking forward to that obviously, but the cricket conditions pose a different challenge to our group, which I think we are really well placed for,” Healy said in an interaction with ICC.
Australia’s strength lies in its versatility, something Healy was keen to emphasise. “We’ve got so much depth in every area that whatever conditions are thrown at us, we’ll be well placed to handle that. So, I’m really excited for the strength of the squad,” she added.
Australia’s 15-member squad blends experience with renewed energy. Left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux has made her way back after a lengthy injury layoff and will form a critical spin pairing with Georgia Wareham. Spin, as Healy pointed out, will be crucial in subcontinental conditions. With stalwarts like Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, and Tahlia McGrath providing stability, Healy’s Australia is far from short on firepower.
The skipper also shared her fondness for the cricketing atmosphere in India. “It’s a great place to play cricket, and also a great place to tour. The culture is very different, but I think the way they (India) just love their cricket, approach it and are fanatical about their cricket, think it’s a great place to go as a cricketer,” she reflected.
One of Australia’s biggest motivations heading into the tournament is the opportunity to achieve a rare milestone, defending their World Cup crown with back-to-back titles. “I don’t think anyone has gone back-to-back for a while, and there are a lot of those sort of milestones that we’d love to achieve. Winning World Cups is special; they’re the pinnacle of our sport. So, we know we’ve got to go there and play consistently,” Healy remarked.
Consistency, as she underlined, is non-negotiable in tournament cricket. Drawing on past lessons, Healy said, “It’s probably where we fell short in the UAE (2024 T20 World Cup), we got done on one bad day. We know we need 10 good results to go our way. I feel like we are in a very good place to do that, and it will be really special for the group if that unfolds.”
Australia will face immediate pressure with their first World Cup fixture being the high-stakes Trans-Tasman clash against New Zealand in Indore. Yet, with 10 players from the title-winning 2022 squad still part of the team, the experience and balance are firmly in place. Healy knows the task won’t be easy, but her belief in her players is unshakeable.
As the subcontinent prepares to host the world’s best teams from September 30 to November 2, Alyssa Healy’s words reflect a champion’s confidence anchored in preparation, depth, and a hunger for history.
