WT20 World Cup 2024: Ashleigh Gardner picks Annabel Sutherland, Phoebe Litchfield as players to watch out for

Gardner picks Sutherland, Litchfield as players to watch out for. (Source – Getty Images)

Australia will enter the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 as the defending champions. They defeated South Africa in the final of the 2023 edition to lift the trophy for a record sixth time. For the upcoming edition the team looks lethal on paper and Australian star all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner has picked two young guns who are the future of Australian cricket.

The 27-year-old has played 90 T20Is for the Australian team and will prove to be a great asset at the World Cup. Despite the team comprising Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry, the all-rounder has pinned her hopes on the likes of Annabel Sutherland and Phoebe Litchfield to come good in the tournament and also said these are the players to watch out for.

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“There are so many different options but I think someone like Annabel Sutherland. We’ve obviously seen what she’s capable of doing, whether that’s with bat or ball. I think she’s someone that can take the game away in both facets of the game. But speaking of youth, someone like Phoebe Litchfield [would be a player to watch out for]. She’s a very classy young kid and she’s kind of shown what she’s capable of at the highest level,” Gardner said speaking to ABC SPORT Daily.

“There are so many people to keep your eye on but I think those two younger players are certainly going to be around for 10 years, probably lighting up the world and no doubt winning many World Cups along the way,” she added.

Australia are placed in Group A along with India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. They will play their first game of the tournament against Sri Lanka on October 5.

Australia squad for T20 World Cup 2024:

Alyssa Healy (c), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Ash Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham