3 reasons why Australia are again favorites to win 2024 Women's T20 World Cup
The first week of the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup has been full of low-scoring games and the odd surprises like New Zealand's win over India. Yet, the unwavering constant when it comes to these big events is the imimitable dominance of the Australian women's side.
And the ongoing T20 World Cup has been no different with the defending champions winning their first two games in comprehensive manner. The Alyssa Healy-led side dismantled Sri Lanka in their tournament opener by six wickets in a mere 14.2 overs.
They followed that up with an impressive 60-run demolition of a confident New Zealand in their second encounter to sit atop the Group A points table.
Qualifying for the semi-final in any world event has become as routine as eating breakfast for the legendary Australian Women's side and it should be no different on this occasion.
However, there is a sense of inevitability even among fans and experts that the six-time T20 World Cup champions are massive favorites to lift a seventh trophy on October 20 and here are three reasons why.
#1 Australia boast the most complete bowling attack in the competition
![Megan Schutt has led a well-oiled Australian bowling machine [Credit: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/10/e138f-17284699307742-1920.jpg?w=500)
If the first two matches were any indication, Australia Women undoubtedly boast the best and most complete bowling attack for the UAE conditions. Evidence of that is how the wickets have been split between almost all the bowlers who have grabbed the cherry in hand.
In restricting Sri Lanka to a dismal 93/7 in 20 overs in their opening game, Australia had four bowlers amongst the wickets, with Megan Schutt's 3/12 in four overs leading the way. The New Zealand clash followed a similar pattern even as they were defending a total with five of the six bowlers picking up atleast a wicket.
Schutt again was the star of the show with extraordinary figures of 3/3 in 3.2 overs as Australia demolished their Trans-Tasmanian rivals for 88.
Apart from just the distribution of wickets amongst the bowlers, Australia also have the ultimate variety in their attack to exploit any type of wicket or matchup against opposition batters.
In Megan Schutt, they have inarguably the best and most in-form pacer with Darcie Brown and Annabel Sutherland as her ideal fast-bowling partners.
The Player of the Tournament from the 2023 T20 World Cup, Ashleigh Gardner takes care of the off-spin duties with her ability to bowl at all stages of an innings. Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham provide left-arm-orthodox and leg-spin options with all three boasting varying skillsets and incredible versatility.
They say 'Bowlers win Tournaments' and Australia Women have a massive advantage over their rivals in that department, making them the updisputed favorite to clinch the title.
#2 Championship pedigree
![Australia women have made a habit of winning World Cups [Credit: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/10/343ba-17284698636351-1920.jpg)
Here's a trivia question - When was the last time Australia Women lost a T20 World Cup match? Locating that would require some going back in time to the opening game of the 2020 edition against India.
Australia have won their last 13 T20 World Cup outings since the India defeat and are the three-time defending champions. Extending further, they have also won six of the previous seven T20 World Cups, including two three-peats from 2010-2014 and 2018-2023.
The Women in Yellow have only lost two T20 World Cup games - 2009 semi-final and the final in 2016. With such dominate that has been rarely seen in any sport, it is hard to see any side that can dethrone them in the ongoing tournament.
Furthermore, while the absence of stalwarts Meg Lanning and Jess Jonassen is massive, the rest of Australia's core is identical to the side that went unbeaten to a sixth T20 World Cup last year.
There is always something about a side with Championship pedigree and DNA that helps them overcome even the odd tricky or high-pressure situation they are likely to be faced with at some point in the competition.
#3 Australia's dominant recent T20I form
Forget ancient history - Australia's recent T20I form alone should make them mighty favorites to win a fourth consecutive T20 World Cup. The side has not lost a T20I series over the last eight years, dating back to February 2017 and won their previous 12 bilateral T20I series.
Australia's last T20I loss came in January to South Africa after which they have won nine straight games, including the ongoing World Cup.
When just defeating Australia in a single T20I match has been near-impossible over the years, it is hard to see any team one-upping them even in the knockouts. That Australia already have one foot in the semi-final with their 2-0 start only means they are possibily two or three wins away from clinching the title.
With the historical four-peat - something even the dominant Chicago Bulls of the 1990s and the Australian Men's side of the 2000s could never pull off, in sight, it would be foolish to bet against the rampaging Australian Women's unit winning the 2024 T20 World Cup.