New Delhi, Oct 21 (NationPress) England’s leading batter Heather Knight has identified their long-time rivals, Australia, as the frontrunners to claim victory in the ongoing Women’s World Cup as the two teams prepare for their highly anticipated clash in the tournament.

She emphasized that the Alyssa Healy-led squad is incredibly strong and pointed out that it is consistently a challenge for any team to compete against the defending champions.

With both England and Australia remaining unbeaten so far, the crucial group-stage match set for Wednesday is creating a buzz. Following their recent triumph over India, the Nat Sciver-Brunt-led side is eager to continue their winning streak against the Women in Yellow.

Heather expressed her views on Australia’s dominance in the sport, noting that they pose a significant threat in the tournament.

“The Australian team is exceptionally strong. They possess tremendous depth and always seem to find a way to win. Therefore, it’s consistently tough when faced with the Aussies. It’s evident that they are the favorites once again for this World Cup. They are the team that everyone else is trying to catch, and it’s up to us to discover a strategy that can disrupt their remarkable success,” she stated.

“I have immense respect for them as a team, their approach to cricket, and their gameplay. Competing against Australia is a true test, and achieving success brings great rewards and satisfaction. We hope to find some success against such an exceptional team.”

Ashleigh Gardner has frequently been in the spotlight during Australia’s matches due to her all-round capabilities. Heather acknowledged the skill of the Aussie all-rounder, stressing that the team must perform well against her.

“Gardner is an outstanding bowler. The pace she delivers and her aggressive line make her challenging to confront. She plays a crucial role in difficult situations, whether with the new ball or at the end, and often through the middle overs. She’s definitely someone we need to strategize against.”