Australia’s women’s cricket team might not be able to field a full-strength team for the opening match of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 against South Africa on June 13 in Manchester. Phoebe Litchfield has been managing a quadriceps injury and missed three warm-up matches in the lead-up to the ICC event.
Phoebe Litchfield uncertain for AUS vs SA match
Litchfield played against South Africa in Arundel, Sussex, on June 4 but missed the warm-up games before and after the game. Two days before taking the field, Australia’s head coach Shelley Nitschke confirmed that Litchfield isn’t certain to bat at number three.
In the 23-year-old’s absence, all-rounder Annabel Sutherland has batted at three in the warm-up matches. Since 2025, Litchfield has been Australia’s third-highest scorer in women’s T20Is, with only the openers, Beth Mooney and Georgia Voll, ahead of her in the charts.
“Yeah, we hope so (she’ll be available). Obviously, she had some quad awareness, and it was just on the conservative side to leave her out of these two games. But we’re hopeful that she’s going to be able to take her place in the side for the first round (match),” said Nitschke.
Without the southpaw, Australia might struggle, as Sutherland doesn’t have the same experience of batting in the top order as Litchfield. In her women’s T20I career, Sutherland has never batted above number five. In fact, she’s batted at seven or below 17 out of 23 times.
Australia’s squad for Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
Sophie Molineux (c), Ashleigh Gardner (vc), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham. Travelling reserve: Tahlia Wilson
Australia’s schedule for Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Stage | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 13 | South Africa | Old Trafford Cricket Ground | Group 1 | 19:00 IST |
| June 17 | Bangladesh | Headingley | Group 1 | 15:00 IST |
| June 20 | Netherlands | Hampshire Bowl | Group 1 | 15:00 IST |
| June 23 | Pakistan | Headingley | Group 1 | 23:00 IST |
| June 28 | India | Lord’s Cricket Ground | Group 1 | 19:00 IST |
Cricket
Tentative dates for ICC ODI World Cup 2027 out, event to start from October 4
