New Delhi, Sep 22 (NationPress) Australia’s captain Alyssa Healy stated that the team is exceptionally prepared and is in a strong position for their ODI World Cup title defense as the prestigious tournament kicks off on September 30. With seven global titles under their belt, Australia will commence their journey against their trans-Tasman rivals, New Zealand, in Indore on October 1.

“I believe we’re in a fantastic place as a team; we’ve spent significant time together during various camps over the winter, and everyone has appreciated the opportunity to customize their preparations through the Australia A series and domestic matches in England,” Alyssa mentioned in her column for the ICC on Monday.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to be here in India finalizing our preparations for the World Cup. It’s a wonderful place to play, and it's a venue we’re all quite familiar with. We know we’ve invested time both on and off the field, so we enter with confidence from our hard work and are ready to engage in some ODI Cricket,” Alyssa wrote.

Australia heads into the tournament following a 2-1 series victory over India, which included a remarkable score of 412 in the series finale in New Delhi. Although Alyssa didn’t achieve a substantial score in the recent series against India, she expressed satisfaction with her game time after recovering from foot and knee injuries over the past year.

“For me personally, having the chance to participate in that ‘A’ series at home was vital; completing six games in a short timeframe was a significant achievement after my comeback from injury,” she shared.

Left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux is set to compete in the tournament after successfully recovering from knee surgery in January, joining five other Australian players who will experience a 50-over World Cup for the first time.

“Our squad is incredibly well-rounded, featuring plenty of youth to complement the seasoned players, and while some will experience their first ODI World Cup, they’ve all been exposed to major tournaments and high-pressure series,” Alyssa explained.

“We’re particularly excited to have Sophie Molineux back in the squad after her recovery from knee surgery earlier this year. She has faced a tough time with injuries, so it’s fantastic to see her back in the green and gold for the World Cup,” Alyssa added.

Australia is also set to play two matches in Sri Lanka, and Alyssa expressed confidence in their ability to secure victories there. “India and Sri Lanka present unique challenges as venues, but they are exciting prospects that our team is fully embracing,” she noted.

“We haven’t played in Sri Lanka since 2016, but many in our group have gained experience there over the years through various development tours. We look forward to returning and achieving success in our matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan,” she concluded.

“This year’s tournament promises to be thrilling, but what I cherish most about ODI World Cups is the opportunity to compete against every team, knowing that to lift that trophy, you must defeat every nation, making it a challenging endeavor. We understand that consistency is key throughout the tournament, and each game holds significance. Our group eagerly anticipates that challenge and can’t wait to get started!” she added.