The Australian cricket team's absence from the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 has been a significant talking point, especially given their past dominance in women's cricket. The league's 2026 season has seen a shift in dynamics, with Australian players no longer dictating the terms of the competition. This change is evident in the fixture of India's upcoming tour of Australia, where the headline reads 'Australia take on the World Champs', an unusual occurrence as world champions typically stay in Australia rather than tour it.
In the past decade, only six ODIs have been played by a touring world champion side in Australia, and none of these were T20Is. This statistic highlights Australia's dominance in women's cricket during this period. Australian players have consistently reigned supreme in the WPL since its inception, with four of the top-10 run-getters and two of the top-10 wicket-takers being Australian. However, the 2026 season has painted a different picture, with the absence of Australian dominance in the league.
The star players of the most dominant side in world cricket, who have carried the bulk of the overseas weight in the first three seasons of the tournament, have not hogged the spotlight in the Navi Mumbai leg of WPL 2026. While they still hold the strongest overseas representation with 13 out of 29 overseas slots, the Australians have not dictated the competition's terms this year.
The absence of some of Australia's biggest names, including Alyssa Healy, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Jess Jonnassen, Georgia Voll, Alana King, and Kim Garth, has contributed to this shift. Additionally, players like Meg Lanning, Beth Mooney, and Georgia Wareham have not performed at their best in the initial games. The weight of the Australian presence this season has been largely shouldered by Nicola Carey, who has made the most of her opportunities in the absence of injured and unwell players.
Despite the absence of Australian dominance, the partnership between Lanning and Litchfield has been a highlight. They took charge of the UP Warriorz innings with their distinct style of play, showcasing their mastery against Sanskriti Gupta, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Mathews, and Amanjot Kaur. Litchfield, who played a supporting role initially, began to take charge in the eighth over, slashing Amanjot over point for a boundary and thumping a six down the ground.
The partnership between Lanning and Litchfield was a testament to their complementary playing styles. They were able to dictate terms for more than 75 balls at a stretch, showcasing their precision, timing, and crafty execution. Their quickfire half-centuries and 124-run stand set the foundation for UPW's late flourish, but the incoming batters struggled to hit big, leading to a loss of wickets.
The pitch conditions also played a role in the partnership's success. Litchfield suggested that the pitch was one of the best of the three they had played on, despite being worn and torn over a few weeks. However, Kerr had a different assessment, noting that the pitch was a little slower and that spinners could get a bit of turn, making it hard for the middle phase of the innings.
Despite the late counter-attack by Kerr and Amanjot, UPW sealed a comfortable 22-run victory. With two wins in two games against the defending champions, they have resurrected their chances of being in contention for a playoffs berth heading to Vadodara. The confidence and planning process of the new pack of players, under the leadership of Lanning, have been a significant factor in their success.
Lanning believes that the team has nailed the planning process in the last two games, and the execution on the field has been a result of the work off the field. The Australian batters were effusive in their praise of each other's contributions, with Litchfield and Lanning highlighting their complementary playing styles and the ease of batting with each other.
As the Navi Mumbai leg ends, UP Warriorz remains strong in the competition, with their Australian imports leading the fight.
