Stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath says ‘there is a little bit extra on the line’ as her team prepares for the three-match series

The road to redemption is one that the Australia women’s cricket team has rarely had to travel down in recent times. The all-conquering side won all three T20 World Cups and the only Cricket World Cup since 2017 before heading into the shortest format’s global showpiece last year.

That streak was shattered by South Africa’s shock semi-final win over the three-time defending T20 World Cup champions, although the first signs of cracks started to appear after Australia claimed their sixth crown in the format in early 2023. An unusually meagre six victories in 11 T20Is after that final arguably put a dent in Australia’s aura, at least until the side went on an all-too familiar tear with 11 wins on the trot before South Africa’s sudden intervention.