Harris plots her likely path to Aussie XI at T20 World Cup

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By Jonathan Healy

Australia all-rounder Grace Harris is banking on her good recent form at domestic level in England to help her earn a place in the Aussies' lineup during the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup.

Harris was named in Australia's 15-player squad for the T20 World Cup that will be held in England and Wales, but just where the 32-year-old slots into the XI remains to be seen given the wealth of options the six-time champions have at their disposal.

Left-hander Beth Mooney and No.1 ranked T20I batter Georgia Voll look certain to open the batting at the tournament with young gun Phoebe Litchfield at three, meaning Harris may find herself coming in lower down the order should she be able to earn a place in the side.

While the majority of Harris' best performances with the bat for her country have come closer to the top of the batting order, the hard-hitting right-hander knows she may have a slightly different role at the T20 World Cup.

"I think it'll be down the order," Harris told the ICC recently when asked about her most likely batting slot at the tournament.

"Volley (Voll) is a very good opener and she's also the future so you've got to invest there and pull the trigger at some stage. 

"Our group is also ageing, so it's probably the smart move. And also, you're kind of splitting hairs between the top four as openers.

"Personally, I just kind of see myself, it feels good to get selected, but clearly just I'm not quite good enough to maintain a spot yet within the XI. 

"But I reckon it's probably down the order or in the middle to lower-order and then just have to be adaptable."

Another factor that may play into Harris' hands at selection is her recent record while playing in England.

Harris holds an imposing strike rate of 145.23 at T20I level when batting in England at international level, while she scored bulk runs last year when appearing for Surrey in the domestic T20 Blast Competition and the London Spirit in The Hundred.

Harris poses with the T20 Blast trophy after winning the 2025 final with Surrey // Getty Images

The veteran struck 338 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 156 for Surrey in the T20 Blast, before matching those efforts at the Spirit where she hit 214 runs at an average of 35.66 and strike rate of 174.

"Yeah, I don't mind England," Harris said with a smile.

"The conditions (in England) are just probably a little bit lower and there's probably a bit more swing early for new ball bowlers. But outside of that, (I am) not too uncomfortable with the wickets over there.

"Sometimes when you get into an Australian set up or an Ashes or a World Cup there and there's kind of a lot going on that you can probably just overthink at times or try and analyse well too many scenarios. 

"Where as the county stuff and The Hundred it allows you to kind of take a step back and really just work on things as an individual.

"I really appreciated my time doing that with Surrey and with the London Spirit. And hopefully I can put my best foot forward when it comes to a World Cup now and when you're with Team Oz (Australia) and you've got a role that might be slightly different to what a domestic team give you."

Australia squad: Sophie Molineux (c), Nicola Carey, Ash Gardner, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham. Travelling reserve: Tahlia Wilson

Australia’s T20 World Cup fixtures (group stage)

v South Africa: June 13, Manchester, 2:30 PM

v Bangladesh: June 17, Headingley, 10:30 AM

v Netherlands: June 20, Hampshire Bowl, 10:30 AM

v Pakistan: June 23, Headingley, 6:30 PM

v India: June 28, Lord’s, 2:30 PM