Women’s ODI WC: Lanning picks Healy, Litchfield as opener for Aus XI for opener
As the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 heats up, former Australia captain Meg Lanning has shared her dream XI for the team’s title defense. The Aussies face New Zealand in their opener on October 1 in Indore, and Lanning broke it all down on The ICC Review podcast.
Lanning starts with a strong opening pair that mixes smarts and spark. She picks Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield to kick things off. “Healy and Litchfield have built a dynamic partnership at the top lately,” Lanning said. They bring experience and fresh energy to set the tone against the Kiwis.
The middle order looks solid with familiar faces like Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Ash Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, and Tahlia McGrath. “The batting pretty much sorts itself out with Perry, Mooney, Gardner, Sutherland, and McGrath filling those spots,” Lanning explained. This lineup gives Australia great balance, and Mooney can step in as wicketkeeper if needed, adding extra flexibility.
The real headache, though, comes in the bowling attack. Lanning points out the tough choices for captain Alyssa Healy. “Picking the bowlers will be the big challenge—what kind of attack do they want?” she noted.
Australia has plenty of options. For pace, there’s Darcie Brown, who could shine on bouncier pitches. Then there are the leg-spinners Alana King and Georgia Wareham, who’ve featured in the recent series against India. “We’ve got Brown for that extra speed, and the two leg-spinners who’ve played well lately, though not as much in recent times,” Lanning said.
In the end, Indore’s conditions will decide it all. “If it spins a lot, they might add another spinner. But if there’s help for the quicks, Brown and Kim Garth could come in,” she added. The team will crunch those details before the trans-Tasman showdown.
Lanning doesn’t underestimate New Zealand, either. The White Ferns just won the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 and now eye a rare double. “They’ve proven they can deliver on the big stage,” Lanning warned. “From my days playing against them in series and World Cups, it was always tough—they have dangerous players and match-winners who’ve been around forever.”
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