In order to be fit for Australia’s T20 World Cup semi-final match against South Africa in Dubai, captain Alyssa Healy lost her race.
The captain had hoped to be fit to captain her team in a rematch of last year’s final, which Australia won in Cape Town, but she pulled up with a foot injury last week during Australia’s group-stage win against Pakistan.
In her place, Australia will field the same squad that defeated India in their final group match last Sunday, meaning Tahlia McGrath will captain the team for the second time.
After winning the toss, South African captain Laura Wolvaardt chose to place the Australians in the Emirates Stadium, where the winners have only participated in one tournament match thus far.
At the toss, Wolvaardt affirmed, “Same team again,” demonstrating her faith in her side following their victories against Australia in two white-ball matches at the beginning of the year. “We want to play our best cricket today.”
Groups:
Australia: Tahlia McGrath (capt), Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown, Ash Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, Grace Harris, Ellyse Perry, and Beth Mooney (wkt).
Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Chole Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta (wkt), Nonkululeko Mlaba, and Ayabonga Khaka are the South African team members.