“HUNGRY AND EXCITED” AUSTRALIA READY TO TAKE ON SOUTH AFRICA IN GROUP A ICC WOMEN’S T20 WORLD CUP OPENER

Media release

• South Africa delighted to be bolstered by returns of Shabnim Ismail and Dané van Niekerk

Sophie Molineux says her Australia side have learned their lessons as they prepare to open their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a semi-final rematch against South Africa.

For the first time since 2018, the number one side in the world do not hold either ICC World Cup trophy, and failed to reach the final of the last two tournaments. 

In the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final, they had no answer for the Proteas, who are still searching for a World Cup triumph despite appearing in the last three showpieces. 

“We’ve taken a lot of lessons out of the last World Cups, so we’re just hungry and excited to be able to get out there,” said Molineux ahead of her first World Cup as skipper. 

“I think a big part of it is looking forward rather than looking back, if you look over the last 10 years, we’ve been really successful, but I do think we have probably got more learnings out of the last two World Cups than we have out of the seven or eight before.  

“Hopefully, we’re setting a platform up for this World Cup, and for a long time afterwards.” 

Australia take on South Africa at 14h30 local time in Old Trafford in the first match in Group A, which also contains ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup champions India. 

With Bangladesh, Pakistan and the Netherlands also in the group, there will be no easy games, which is why Molineux is pleased to start the campaign against the fifth-ranked side. 

She added: “That first game, that is probably the best way to get into a tournament like this is to play a class outfit in South Africa. 

“They have got an enormous amount of depth now, we’re really looking forward to getting out there and hopefully starting the tournament on a really positive note. 

“You just want to get off to a flyer but against a good team, a start like that would go a long way to getting what we want from the World Cup.” 

Molineux replaced the legendary Alyssa Healy as skipper after she retired earlier this year, while Australia’s leading T20I wicket-taker Megan Schutt has said this is likely to be her final World Cup appearance. 

Their opposition instead have been able to call on two legends of their own, as Shabnim Ismail and Dané van Niekerk have come out retirement for this World Cup. 

Captain Laura Wolvaardt said: “They are both super experienced and have played in England a lot, so they have knowledge of the conditions over here. 

“I think someone like Shabs [Ismail], since she retired, we have been missing that really fast bowler in our line-up, and someone who can make a bit of an impact in the game. 

“It is a no-brainer to bring her back, she is still bowling really well, has been playing a lot of cricket throughout the year and is still very exciting and offers so much information and knowledge to our bowling group.  

“Same with Dané, she is still playing cricket, she still offers so much from a leadership point of view as well, she can help me out with captaincy too. 

“It is great having them back and hopefully we can go one step further this team.” 

Van Niekerk retired prior to the 2023 T20 World Cup on home soil, with Ismail ending her international career after the tournament where South Africa made the final for the first time. 

After gaining finals experience with that 2023 loss to Australia, the Proteas have inched closer to lifting the trophy for the first time without getting over the final hurdle. 

It may be that Van Niekerk and Ismail provide the magic that sees them end victorious on 5 July at Lord’s. 

“It would be so special for them to win,” she added. “They have given so much to South African cricket over the years. 

“I think they bring so much experience to the group. It gives us a really exciting mix of knowledge and youngsters. I’m really happy to have them back and hopefully it works.” 

ENDS