McGrath set for final tune-up ahead of Women’s World Cup

While many of her international teammates are currently plying their trade in the UK in England's domestic The Hundred event, McGrath believes a hit-out for Australia A against India A is the perfect way to round off her preparations ahead of the big marquee ICC event that commences on September 30.

With less than 50 days to go until the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India and Sri Lanka, McGrath will be joined in the 50-over Australia A series by Alyssa Healy, who is making her return from injury, as well as fellow contracted players Tess Flintoff, Darcie Brown and Kim Garth.

The decision to skip The Hundred allowed McGrath to remain in Australia through the winter in anticipation of a demanding schedule across the next year.

"It's been a really nice winter," McGrath told cricket.com.au.

"It's the longest time off I've had in a number of years, so it was nice to go tools down for a bit, get a proper reset, proper refresh.

"It's been a really nice build-in to work on some things, to spend some time in Brissy (Brisbane) with the girls with some camps, and then finish off the pre-season with some Aus A games, which is in my eyes the perfect prep leading into a World Cup.

"(I'm) still at home, I get to trial a few things, and it's in the 50-over format as well."

The extended off-season has also provided McGrath time to adjust to her new role in Australia’s ODI line-up.

Traditionally a No.5 batter, she shifted down to No.7 last summer and it’s been a role she has relished, whether finishing an innings with quick runs or anchoring a recovery.

Playing in the role, McGrath has shown her full potential to absorb pressure with the bat ahead of Australia's bid for an eighth Cricket World Cup title later this year.

She has 266 runs from 13 innings in that position with a highest score of 56* coming against India when the team was in tricky situation at 174/5 in Perth last December.

Apart from her lower-order runs, her record reads 48 runs from four games at No.4, 268 runs from 19 games as No.5, 168 runs from eight games as No.6, showing her capabilities to bat across positions, if needed.

"I'm trying to be really deliberate in how I start my innings, and trying to pick the gaps a bit better, rather than just smoke my cover drives," McGrath noted.

"Try and be a bit more deliberate in getting off the mark and show a bit more intent with my scoring shots ... so it's been good to work on that and drill down on that and hopefully now see a bit of progress in the middle.

"I locked myself into No.7 at the backend of last year and enjoyed that role where I could come in and tee off most times I came in and we already had a really good score on the board, so I could just continue that momentum and help feed the strike to the batter at the other end, who was often flying.

"I really enjoyed that role, and I'm looking to further propel how I approach that role."

The 29-year-old has thus far taken part in 46 ODIs, amassing 771 runs at 29.65 while playing down the order, in addition to chipping in with 25 wickets with her decent seamers.

As she prepares for the main event later this year, this time as vice-captain of the side, McGrath reflected fondly on her experiences from the Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand in 2022, where she was still cementing her spot in the side.

McGrath had a decent outing through the tournament as Australia went on to claim the title, helping the side with 100 valuable runs from five outings with the bat, while also racking up five wickets with the ball.

"That (2022 tournament) was my favourite World Cup I've been a part of," she said.

"The extended time, playing every team, it's a proper challenge.

"So the fact that now I'm in a leadership role and I've evolved my game a little bit in that way, I'm really excited to play my part (in India) and hopefully be lifting another World Cup trophy the end of it."