Women's T20 World Cup: Australia squad, schedule & odds

Australia have dominated across the previous eight stagings of the Women's T20 World Cup and head into the 2024 tournament as the three-time defending champions.

The Aussies triumphed in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020 and 2023, while they lost in the 2016 final and were beaten in the semi-finals of the inaugural tournament back in 2009.

This time around, with the World Cup have been moved to the UAE from Bangladesh, they are led by Alyssa Healy, with a wealth of experience provided by Ash Gardner, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry and Megan Schutt.

Australia get their bid for glory underway on Saturday 5th October when they take on Sri Lanka in Sharjah and they will definitely hope to go all the way to the final, which takes place in Dubai on Sunday 20th October.

Also in Group A alongside Australia and Sri Lanka are India, New Zealand and Pakistan, while Group B is composed of 2009 champions England, 2016 winners West Indies, South Africa, Bangladesh and Scotland.

Australia Women T20 World Cup odds

To win - 1.72
To reach the final - 1.36
To win Group A - 1.36

Australia fixtures and knockout schedule

Saturday 5th October - Australia v Sri Lanka, Sharjah
Tuesday 8th October - Australia v New Zealand, Sharjah
Friday 11th October - Australia v Pakistan, Dubai
Sunday 13th October - Australia v India, Sharjah

Semi-final 1 - Thursday 17th October, Dubai
Semi-final 2 - Friday 18th October, Sharjah

Final - Sunday 20th October, Dubai

Australia squad selection

Both Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning have retired from international duty and will be absent this time around, with the major selection talking point seeing left-handed all-rounder Jess Jonassen missing out on a place in the 15-player squad.

Jonassen has played more than 100 T20 internationals for her country, but has not featured for Australia in any format during 2024, so her non-selection is not a massive surprise, despite her having previously featured in every World Cup should was available for.

Healy will still have plenty of spin options at her disposal, with leg-spinners Alana King and Georgia Wareham backed up by the off-spin of Gardner and the left-arm option of Sophie Molineux.

In the pace department Australia are able to call on the services of both Darcie Brown and Tayla Vlaeminck, with the ever-reliable duo of Perry and Schutt completing a formidable line-up.

With the bat skipper Healy and Mooney will be supported by the outstanding young talent of Phoebe Litchfield, who will be featuring in her first global tournament.

All-rounder Annabel Sutherland - who has a Test double century to her name - is also expected to shine, having recently excelled for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred in England, being named as Player of the Tournament.

Sutherland scored 212 runs and took 10 wickets with her medium-pacers as the Superchargers narrowly missed out on the knockout stage of the tournament.

Australia squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Tayla Vlaeminck.