New Delhi, Dec 23 (NationPress) Australia’s vice-captain, Tahlia McGrath, has openly shared her struggles as she finds herself in what she describes as the most demanding period of her international career. Following a disappointing World Cup performance, she has admitted to experiencing a decline in confidence.

For the first time in eight years, Australia exited a global tournament without securing either the ODI or T20 World Cup trophy, having been eliminated in the semi-finals of last month’s ODI World Cup by the eventual champions, India.

The team is set to regroup in February for a home multi-format series against India, before shifting focus to the T20 World Cup in England scheduled for June.

McGrath’s personal journey has reflected the hurdles faced by the team. The 30-year-old had a tough tournament, scoring only 69 runs at an average of 13.75, with limited chances to showcase her talent with both bat and ball. She candidly reflected on this period and the impact it had on her.

“Cricket is a brutal game, heavily reliant on confidence. When things aren’t going well, it can feel overwhelming. I certainly didn’t perform up to my standards and felt the weight of that pressure,” McGrath remarked, as reported by ESPNCricinfo.

When asked if this was the toughest phase of her career, she did not hesitate to agree.

“Probably. Adding captaincy into the mix, along with time spent away from home, makes it even more challenging. Losing a World Cup is hard to process. It’s been tough. Despite my efforts to help us reach finals cricket in the WBBL, I was looking forward to a break,” she stated.

Since 2022, McGrath has often stepped in for Alyssa Healy, captaining Australia on 15 occasions. Alongside Ashleigh Gardner, she is considered a strong candidate to take over the captaincy once Healy retires. However, McGrath’s candidness about her performance struggles demonstrates her introspective approach regarding her role and readiness.

In a bid for a reset, McGrath opted not to enter next month’s Women’s Premier League in India. Instead, she has chosen to spend time with her family in South Australia before the upcoming international matches.

“I’m distancing myself right now. There’s no point in picking up a bat; I wouldn’t be productive. So, I’m taking time away from the game, going for walks along the beach, playing a bit of golf, and catching up with family and friends. It’s about refreshing myself, regaining energy, and preparing to put in the work after Christmas,” she expressed.

While she remains dedicated to her team, McGrath hasn’t ruled out returning to her previous positions. “I’m committed to the team and enjoy being part of the XI. I haven’t quite secured that No.7 position, so I need to work on that to make it my own. Once I achieve that, I’ll aim to move up the batting order,” she added.