CWG 2022: Australia might skip opening ceremony to focus on India clash

Women’s Cricket is all set to make a grand arrival at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, with the T20 cricket tournament slated to be played from the 29th of July at Edgbaston. Meanwhile, Australia players might opt out of the opening ceremony on the 28th of July to concentrate on their clash with India.

Cricket returns to the CWG after a hiatus of 24 years and will feature an eight-team T20 tournament with 16 matches to be played, including the final on the 7th of August. The teams are divided into two groups, and Australia are grouped together with India, Pakistan, and Barbados in group A.

Two Indian players did not travel with the Indian squad after contracting the Covid-19 virus and although the Indian team will be slightly weaker, the Australian coach Shelley Nitschke is expecting a tough game against the no.4 ranked side in the world. She stated that playing in the opening game of the inaugural edition of the tournament is a big motivation for the players.

“It’s a big motivation. It’s the first one, it’s something new for us. We’re really keen to put our best foot forward and hopefully add a gold medal to the mix. It’s important and the girls are excited about it. We expect a decent crowd there on Friday against India, but in effect, our preparation stays reasonably similar to what we do in the big tournaments,” Nitschke said on the eve of the opening ceremony.

‘It has a lot of significance for us’ – Nitschke on debut of Women’s cricket at CWG

The Australian coach also stated that the group is honoured to be part of this historic tournament. Playing in World Cups and Ashes are very important for the team but being part of sporting events like the CWG and the Olympics hold a special place for the players, and playing in the first one makes it even more remarkable.

“They’re all really honoured to be part of the first T20 women’s (tournament) at the Commonwealth Games. It’s got a special place. We play World Cups and Ashes and things like that, which are very important, but this is something a little bit different, to be involved in the first one. It has a lot of significance for us,” Nitschke added.