Australia are confident they’ve found the winning formula for their women’s Twenty20 World Cup defence with preparations set to ramp up this weekend.
The Aussies will begin their home summer against Sri Lanka on Sunday, in the first of three T20s at North Sydney Oval.
That series will then be followed by a one-day series against Sri Lanka, before a T20 tri-series with India and England in the lead-up to the global tournament in February and March.
The women will be aiming to win their first World Cup on home soil since the one-day trophy was claimed in 1988.
Selectors on Wednesday stuck with an unchanged 14-player squad from the one that conquered the West Indies earlier this month, with the winning formula seemingly set.
It means spinner Sophie Molineux continues to be rested with a shoulder injury, while allrounder Heather Graham remains a chance of a debut after going uncapped in the Caribbean.
“We’ve got a really stable core group for a long period of time now and that has certainly helped,” star wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy said.
“The exciting thing is there are a lot of players around the fringe that are putting their hands up for selection and knowing they can put their hand up if called upon.
“It’s going to be crucial going into a World Cup making sure we have our combinations right.”
Australia have never lost to Sri Lanka and have dropped just two of their past 34 games against all opponents in all formats dating back to March.
If they clean sweep Sri Lanka in next month’s three-match one-day series in Brisbane, they will break their own record for the most consecutive wins in the format at 18.
“We’ve found a formula that works,” Healy said.
“The maturity of our side at the moment, there are no real egos in our group.
“Everyone knows their role and everyone plays that role to make sure we are winning games of cricket.
“Momentum is key, and no matter the opposition going out there with the same mindset and same attitude with how we want to play our cricket.
“We know if we’re playing our best cricket that is the best in the world.”
Australia squad: Meg Lanning (capt), Erin Burns, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Heather Graham, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham.