Australia's semi-final limbo ideal reset for knockout stage

Australia will not find out where, or when, they will play their World Cup semi-final until Sunday night, but coach Matthew Mott says his squad are looking at their time in limbo as a golden opportunity to reset and refresh ahead of the knockout matches.

Despite finishing unbeaten on the top of the table after the round-robin stage, whether Australia feature in the March 30 semi-final in Wellington, or the match in Christchurch a day later, depends on the outcome of India’s final game against South Africa on Sunday night.

That is due to the tournament playing conditions, which stipulate that India (should they qualify) feature in the second day-night semi-final at Christchurch's Hagley Oval, regardless of where they finish inside the top four – likely at a request of the ICC's host broadcaster, India's Star Sports.

But Mott said he was simply content to have dodged the last-minute scramble for the top four –India, England and West Indies are battling for two remaining spots – which gives Australia the luxury of relaxing for two days while those final games of the round-robin stage play out.

"I'm certainly not frustrated, it's part relief to get through to the semi-final phase – it's been a really interesting competition so far, teams have beaten everyone, so to stay out of that has kept us in a good place," Mott said on Saturday.

"We knew from the start of the tournament (about that rule) so whether we play here or there, it doesn't really matter.

"The next couple of days are important that we unwind a little bit … and then we'll know exactly where we're going to be, and we have two sets of plans worked out exactly for what we need to do."

Currently, all Australia know is they will not meet South Africa in a semi-final, after the Proteas cemented second spot.

But various combinations of results, including washouts, from Sunday's matches between India and South Africa, and England and Bangladesh, will determine who they play of India, England or West Indies (New Zealand also remain a mathematical chance of finishing in fourth but it would take an extremely unlikely combination of events).

"As a cricket fan, it's been great to watch … but to be brutally honest, it doesn't really matter (who Australia play next)," Mott said.

"If we're going to win this tournament, we need to beat the best.

"I think what the tournament has shown up is that different teams match up well against each other, so on any given day, if you're not on 100 per cent then anyone's gettable.

"We're really mindful of that, so we're just looking forward to that semi-final as an opportunity to play some really good cricket."

The Australian touring party will have the next two days off training, before they either resume preparations in Wellington on Monday, or fly to Christchurch.

Mott said a packed schedule over the last few months, which included the multi-format Ashes series immediately prior to their departure for New Zealand, would stand the squad in good stead.

"Less is more at this stage of the tournament, you don't lose your skills overnight," he explained.

"It's more about getting into a nice frame of mind, feeling good about yourselves, and getting away from the game for a couple of days … whatever they find gives them energy and resets them.

"We've banked a lot of cricket over the last couple of months, it's not about cramming extra sessions in, it's about feeling in a really good space and making sure we're ready to take on whatever opposition is thrown up at us and I think we're in a good spot to do that."

Australia's nervy five-wicket win over Bangladesh completed their unbeaten round-robin campaign on Friday.

But it has not all gone the world No.1's way over the past three weeks, with their opening 12-run win over England going down to the final over, while Australia had to pull off the two largest chases in women's World Cup history to defeat India and South Africa.

In matches against New Zealand and West Indies, the middle-order was forced to rebuild after early collapses, as was also the case against Bangladesh.

"I think we've built really nicely," Mott said.

"We were under some pressure yesterday, and some different players had to step up under that so it was a good little learning opportunity as well.

"The team is in a real sweet spot at the moment, different people are contributing across the board.

"We've had some tough games, we haven't had it all our own way, we've had to fight out to some pretty precarious positions and I think that steels us pretty well for semi-finals cricket.

"What great teams do, having watched a lot of sport over the last few years, is find a way out of tricky situations.

"We're really happy, as most teams will be if they get in that four ... then it's pure knockout, and that's where we will be really tested as well."

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington. Travelling reserves: Heather Graham, Georgia Redmayne

Australia's World Cup 2022 fixtures

Mar 5: Beat England by 12 runs

Mar 8: Beat Pakistan by seven wickets

Mar 13: Beat New Zealand by 141 runs

Mar 15: Beat West Indies by seven wickets

Mar 19: Beat India by six wickets

Mar 22: Beat South Africa by five wickets

Mar 25: Beat Bangladesh by five wickets

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

Semi-finals

Mar 30: Basin Reserve, Wellington, 9am AEDT

Mar 31: Hagley Park, Christchurch, 12pm AEDT

Final

Apr 3: Hagley Park Christchurch, 11am AEST

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports