Next year's women's T20 World Cup will take place in South Africa starting on February 10.
The event will consist of groups with Group 1 featuring Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, while Group 2 consists of England, India, West Indies, Pakistan, and Ireland.
The group stages will run from February 10-21 with Cape Town, Paarl and Gqeberha hosting the matches.
Newlands will host the two semi-finals on February 23 and 24 before hosting the final on the 26th, with a reserve day on the 27th available in case of inclement weather.
Australia Group Matches
February 11 v New Zealand in Paarl
February 14 v Bangladesh in Gqeberha
February 16 v Sri Lanka in Gqeberha
February 18 v South Africa in Gqeberha
It is a different-looking Australian coaching unit with Shelley Nitschke taking over from Matthew Mott, with the captaincy position still vacant.
Australia has undergone changes with star batsman Rachael Haynes retiring, whilst opener Meg Lanning is on personal leave indefinitely.
Still it's a strong Australian lineup for next year's World Cup, which is likely to feature Beth Mooney, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham, Molly Strano, Ash Gardner, Ellyse Perry, Nicola Carey, Annabel Sutherland, Delissa Kimmince, and Erin Burns. All of who were part of the victorious 2020 World Cup.
Let's take a look at the history of the Australian Women's side in T20 World Cups.
Since playing its first-ever T20 match on September 2, 2005, against England at the County Ground in Taunton, the side has gone from strength to strength emerging as an indestructible powerhouse.
2009 World Cup
Australia would head into the inaugural event as strong favourites to claim the trophy. After being comprehensively beaten by New Zealand, Australia made light work of the West Indies by 8 wickets with Nitschke making 56 to be named player of the match. Her important knock would translate into an important final pool game against South Africa, taking 4/21 as Australia won by 23 runs. Unfortunately, Australia would fall in the semifinals to England beaten by 8 wickets.
2010 World Cup
After falling at the second last hurdle, Australia would taste the ultimate glory. The second Women's T20 World Cup would be in the West Indies with the home side featuring in Australia's pool alongside England and South Africa.
Australia would be on the end of a thrilling super over victory over England, before toppling South Africa and then the host nation the West Indies. Alex Blackwell would be instrumental, compiling a match-winning knock of 61. The win put Australia into the final where it would face New Zealand.
After Blackwell won the toss and chose to bat, Australia could only conjure 8/106 from its 20 overs. The New Zealand run chase would be thrilling with the side needing 14 runs from the final over.
But a then 19-year-old rising superstar Ellyse Perry would be the hero denying New Zealand victory, whilst being awarded player of the match for her brilliant bowling performance taking 3/18.
The story since
The next four T20 World Cups would be won by Australia including a thrilling four-run victory in 2012 against England, whilst in 2020 defeating India at the MCG in front of 86,174 spectators - the largest crowd at a sporting event before COVID struck.
With five T20 World Cups in the cabinet, Australia will look to make it number six come February 2023.
