Southern Stars primed for World Cup defence

Southern Stars captain Meg Lanning has absolute faith in her side’s ability to go back-to-back at the World T20 championship, beginning on March 23 in Bangladesh.

Speaking at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane for a leadership forum, Lanning told cricket.com.au that the belief in the playing group was there to defend the trophy they won in India back in October 2012 after beating England in the final.

“It’s a brand new place for us all, but we know that if we’re playing well, we’re certainly capable of defending our title,” the Aussie skipper said.

“There isn’t a team in that tournament we can’t beat.”

Lanning, 21, assumed the captaincy during Australia’s recent Ashes series loss, after incumbent leader Jodie Fields sustained a broken finger.

The reigning Belinda Clark Medallist impressed in the role and was consequently named captain for the T20 World Cup, ahead of Fields, who was named as her deputy, but has since withdrawn from the tournament.

“It wasn’t easy coming into that role because I probably got the opportunity quite early in my career, and I was learning on the run a bit through the Ashes,” Lanning said.

“But the more games I did it, the more comfortable I felt. You don’t necessarily have to be a captain or vice-captain to be a leader, so I felt like I was part of that leadership group beforehand as well.”

Another senior figure in the Southern Stars camp, Ellyse Perry believes the title of ‘defending champions’ can be a double-edged sword.

“It’s a really good position to be in, but it’s also a really hard position to be in,” said Perry, who starred with bat and ball in the Ashes.

“It’s nice to be considered the best side in the world at the moment in T20 because we are world champions, but I think with that comes a lot of expectation from ourselves and a wider group of people to maintain those standards.

“That’s a really great challenge, and we’re all really looking forward to starting it off. There are more teams in the tournament this year and that means a few more matches, and hopefully we’ll defend that title at the very end.

“Whenever there’s a World Cup year it’s always a really exciting one, and to go to a new place you haven’t toured before adds to that excitement, and also a little bit of trepidation I suppose.

“Having finished the Ashes on a relative high it’ll be really great to head over there, grow as a group and hopefully have some success.”