The left-hander also sharpens her wicketkeeping skills to provide cover for Beth Mooney as T20 World Cup preparations intensify

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Phoebe Litchfield has urged Australia’s batting group to take greater responsibility as they prepare to level the T20I series against India in Canberra. Following a heavy defeat in Sydney, the hosts now face the prospect of their first bilateral series loss at home since 2017.

Australia stumbled in the series opener at the SCG, played under the leadership of stand-in captain Sophie Molineux. Despite a steady start, the innings unraveled dramatically. Litchfield, returning from a quad injury sustained during the Women’s Premier League, initially struggled at 0 off eight balls after facing a maiden from Renuka Singh. She recovered to score 26 off 19 deliveries before falling to Arundhati Reddy during a collapse that saw Australia lose 3 for 12.

Georgia Wareham top-scored with 30, but the home side lost their final five wickets for just 12 runs and were bowled out inside 18 overs.

Australia’s Batting Unit Under Focus

Reflecting on the loss, Litchfield emphasized the need for greater accountability within the batting group.

“I think just some ownership with the bat. I reckon that’s probably where we fell short,” she said. “We were still scoring at a good rate, but we ran out of batters. As a unit, we need to ensure we either set a big total or chase one down.”

Australia’s limited T20I schedule — with only three matches played since last March due to focus on the ODI World Cup — has added urgency to preparations. With the next T20 World Cup just four months away, the remaining matches against India, followed by a multi-format tour of the West Indies and additional games against South Africa in the UK, carry significant weight.

Litchfield highlighted the adaptability of the squad, noting that many players feature in T20 leagues globally but often in varying roles. Adjusting to specific roles within the national setup remains crucial as Australia fine-tune combinations ahead of the global tournament.

Strengthening Wicketkeeping Options

Beyond her batting responsibilities, Litchfield is also investing time in improving her wicketkeeping skills. With Alyssa Healy approaching retirement and Beth Mooney set to take on the gloves full-time, Australia are mindful of maintaining depth in the role.

Working closely with former Australia captain Tim Paine, Litchfield has been sharpening her keeping skills to ensure she can step in if required, especially during global tournaments where squad sizes are restricted.

“You’ve got to have more strings to your bow,” Litchfield said. “I’ve kept wicket back home in Orange and want to keep that skill up if needed. It gives the team flexibility and could open up space for an extra batter or bowler in the squad.”

Key Selection Decisions Ahead

Australia also made bold selection calls for the series opener, leaving out experienced campaigners Tahlia McGrath and Megan Schutt. With the series on the line and T20 World Cup preparations underway, the focus now shifts to how Australia respond under pressure.

As the Canberra clash approaches, Litchfield’s call for greater batting ownership underlines Australia’s intent to bounce back strongly and reassert their dominance in women’s T20 cricket.