AUS-W vs IND-W: India first up will be a real challenge, says Australia all-rounder Tahlia McGrath
AUS-W vs IND-W: Australia all-rounder Tahlia McGrath says India will pose a test in the opening game at Edgbaston on Friday. She also notes that India’s archrival, England, poses a significant threat to Australia’s Commonwealth Games campaign.
Tahlia only played in her first T20 match in October of last year, but she will be essential if Australia is to win the gold. She presently averages 247 in the T20 format and recently scored 91 runs without being out from 49 balls during the women’s Ashes.
“Twenty20 is a format that can go either way, so it’s going to be a really hard tournament, and India first up is going to be a real challenge, but we’re feeling good,” Tahlia said on the eve of the game.
The current world T20 and ODI cricket champions are Australia, the undeniable leaders in women’s cricket. At the Commonwealth Games, women’s cricket is being played for the first time.
Nothing but a gold will do for Australia in Birmingham, according to Tahlia.
“We play at that level now – every game you play you want to win, and every tournament you want to win,” Tahlia said.
“We certainly have that hunger and that desire and it’s the first time women’s cricket is in the Commonwealth Games so everyone wants it that bit more.”
England was chosen by the 26-year-old as being “high on the watch-list.”
“We’ve been keeping an eye on them – they’ve got some really exciting young talent coming through and they’ve been performing really well. They’re a huge threat in this tournament.”
On her rapid growth as a player, she said:
“If you go back three years, I had a bit of work to do in that format. I’ve worked pretty hard at my game, trying to increase my strike rate, trying to create a few more deliveries with the ball.”
In a hotel that transformed into a Games Village, eight teams have been residing.
“We’ve been down to the main village, taking everything in,” she said.
“We’ve been getting into swapping badges with other non-cricketing nations. Every tournament we do is just cricket, cricket, cricket, so this is something different and we’re really enjoying it.”
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