"You don't come here to defend the title" - Alyssa Healy firm on winning T20 World Cup for Australia for fourth consecutive time
Australian captain Alyssa Healy has firmly set her sights on winning the T20 World Cup this year. However, the wicketkeeper-batter has acknowledged that their group of India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka is a tricky one.
Australia have won the previous three editions of the T20 World Cup and will start as the firm favourites to win it this year as well. The Women in Yellow have been in excellent form as well, having recently secured a 3-0 T20I series win against New Zealand.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Healy, who will captain the Aussies in a World Cup for the first time, said (as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo):
"You don't come here to defend the title, that's not what the World Cup is about, you come here to win it. So we are here with that approach. Our pool [Group A with India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka] is quite a tricky one. We've got to get past these teams to have a chance of lifting the trophy. So it's a challenge I'm very excited for."
Australia remained undefeated in the 2023 T20 World Cup on their way to the title. They beat hosts South Africa by 19 runs in the final hosted by Newlands, Cape Town.
"We know what the other nine are going to throw at us given the opportunity" - Alyssa Healy
Healy also suggested that she takes pride in Australia being the target of all teams and sees it as a challenge to showcase the brand of cricket they wish to play. She said:
"It feels like, without being disrespectful, we have been hunted for a long period of time. We're constantly being asked about that, and we're used to it now. Teams are coming really hard at us to put us under the pump which we love. This World Cup is going to be no different. We know what the other nine are going to throw at us given the opportunity. We see it as a challenge and an opportunity to showcase a brand of cricket we like playing."
The defending champions will open their campaign against Sri Lanka in Sharjah on October 5.