Melbourne, Dec 27 (NationPress) Australia's seam-bowling all-rounder Kim Garth expressed that the emotional sting from the ODI World Cup semi-final loss to India still lingers within the team. She emphasized that the upcoming multi-format series against India, scheduled from February to March, presents an exhilarating challenge for the Australian squad.

In a nail-biting encounter in Navi Mumbai, India triumphed over Australia by five wickets to secure the ODI World Cup semi-final and subsequently claimed the championship title. “Definitely, I think that one certainly still hurts a bit. That semi-final loss, India is obviously a very good team. So look, I think every time we play India, it's always a good game of cricket,” said Garth.

“Having three one-dayers, three T20s, and a Test match within a month across various conditions in Australia is going to be incredibly exciting,” she shared with ABC Sport on Saturday, during the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Kim noted that teams are increasingly closing the gap in competition against top sides like Australia, which she finds promising. “It's an interesting one. Australia has been a dominant team for so long, but all teams are improving, and we are witnessing more competitive matches, which is really thrilling, especially in World Cups where games are becoming more closely contested,” she remarked.

“Australia had a period of dominance where they nearly won everything, and now they don’t hold either the 50-over or T20 World Cup titles, which is a first in a long time,” she added.

“Nonetheless, it’s an exciting time for women’s cricket. Although I still feel a bit of hurt from that World Cup loss, I believe it’s ultimately beneficial for the sport,” Kim elaborated.

She further highlighted the exceptional talent present in the Australian team and the promising future stars. “Honestly, there’s so much talent in that group and many emerging players. I can’t wait to see how the likes of Phoebe Litchfield and Annabel Sutherland develop in the coming years,” she said.

“It’s also about nurturing the next generation. Observing this evolution will be fascinating. But as I mentioned, the India series is something to eagerly anticipate, and I believe it will serve as a significant test for us.”

Australia and India will also face off in a Test match, with Kim advocating for an increase in longer-format games in the women’s international arena. “I think so. The players certainly desire more Test cricket. We all enjoy playing Test matches, so I can’t see why we shouldn’t have more of it,” she stated.

“We've seen some outstanding women’s Test matches over the years, particularly recalling the memorable Ashes Test in England in 2023 that lasted the full five days with remarkable cricket played throughout,” she noted. “Personally, I can't see any reason against it, and selfishly, I obviously want to play a lot more Test cricket, so hopefully, we see more of that in the future.”

Kim is currently enjoying a break and will soon travel to India to compete for the Gujarat Giants (GG) in the WPL 2026. “At this moment, I've had some time off over Christmas, which was delightful after a busy few months. A significant number of the girls will head to India next week to participate in the WPL, which is always thrilling. Then, about a week later, we kick off that multi-format series at home against India. It’s set to be a fantastic series,” she concluded.