Alyssa Healy has shrugged off her injury concerns to lead Australia's charge ©Getty
Just days ago in Bengaluru, Alyssa Healy gave voice to what many have already sensed - that the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup may go down as one of the strongest yet, with more teams circling the chase for glory. In her own count, there are 'seven others' in the mix. This might come as vindication for teams like India and England who have strived to narrow the gap on the World Cup behemoths since the last iteration in 2022. But Australia are still seven-time champions, and holders with the same core squad. Any talk of progress, any claim of the gulf shrinking, will be put through its sternest examination over the next five weeks.
It's not like the Australian juggernaut has slackened. Since lifting the last World Cup, they've maintained a steady gallop you would associate with them - 26 wins in 30 ODIs. But within this run, there's been a slight stumble to their champions gait - a 102-run defeat (their heaviest by margin of runs) and the
