No room for complacency: Mott

Australia head coach Matthew Mott says he wants to move away from the term “defending champions” as his team prepares for next month’s Women’s World Cup in the United Kingdom.

There is no denying the world No.1 ranked Southern Stars – who have not lost a one-day international series since the 2013 Ashes – will head into the tournament as favourites.

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But Mott is determined there will be no complacency within his squad, pointing out that their status as reigning champions – having won the 2013 title – will give them no advantage this time around.

"I do have an issue with the term ‘defending champions’, we’re not defending anything,” Mott told cricket.com.au.

"We’re all starting on same amount of points and there’s at least four sides there who will genuinely think their name should be on that cup.

"We’ll have to play our best cricket and we’ll be looking to attack every game, to make sure we’re fully prepared and have got that resilience and accountability when it counts.

"There’s certainly no easy games in that draw.

"It’s a World Cup and if one of the so-called top teams doesn’t turn up on the day, they could be beaten at any stage.

"There will be zero complacency from this group, we were stung by (last year’s) World T20 loss."

Image Id: 747C299FDF394A4DA2CDCF9000E4E39C Image Caption: Australia were "stung" by their World T20 defeat in 2016 // Getty

Mott believes the 2017 tournament is shaping up as the most open in years, with England looking to win their third title on home soil, while New Zealand, West Indies, India and South Africa can also count themselves as contenders.

"I think there’s pressure on every team,” he continued.

"Every team is going there trying to win the World Cup.

"England will be desperate to do well in front of their home fans, West Indies will be buoyed by their T20 World Cup win and New Zealand are always a strong side."

This will be the third time England have hosted the World Cup and they have a strong record on their home soil, having emerged triumphant on both previous occasions in 1973 and 1993.

While there’s an injury cloud hanging over captain Heather Knight, who is recovering from a stress fracture in her foot, England will welcome back one big name for the tournament with wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor returning from a year out of the game.

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West Indies, meanwhile, are full of confidence having beaten Australia to claim their maiden World T20 title last April, while New Zealand will field one of the strongest line-ups at the tournament, with reigning ICC ODI player of the year Suzie Bates and star allrounder Sophie Devine both set to feature.

A host of those White Ferns are already in England adjusting to the conditions, with captain Bates, wicketkeeper Rachel Priest, allrounder Amy Satterthwaite and quicks Lea Tahuhu and Holly Huddleston among those currently playing with England county teams.

Australia will play each of the other seven teams, with the top four teams to qualify for semi-finals in Bristol and Derby ahead of the final, to be played on July 23 at Lord’s.

"I like the format this time, everyone plays everyone once so the best teams will go through and no one can gripe about it," Mott said.

"It means teams will have a good gauge of where they are at after those games and the best four teams will be in the semi-finals."

Image Id: 464DA27314C64F18BD32C97837C97CC8 Image Caption: Australia won the inaugural ICC Women's Championship last year // Getty

For now, though, Mott’s Australians have their minds firmly focused on their own preparations.

The Southern Stars are currently in Brisbane for their second and final pre-tournament camp on home soil, while they will also spend a week fine-turning in Southampton ahead of their World Cup opener on June 26.

"That’s the only game that really counts for us now, the first one against the West Indies," Mott said.

Women's World Cup 2017 Guide

Australia World Cup squad: Sarah Aley, Kristen Beams, Alex Blackwell (vc), Nicole Bolton, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning (c), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

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Australia's World Cup schedule

View the full tournament schedule here

Warm-up matches

June 20: Australia v South Africa, Oakham

June 22: Australia v Pakistan, Leicester

Tournament

June 26: Australia v West Indies, Taunton

June 29: Australia v Sri Lanka, Bristol

July 2: Australia v New Zealand, Bristol

July 5: Australia v Pakistan, Leicester

July 9: Australia v England, Bristol

July 12: Australia v India, Bristol

July 15: Australia v South Africa, Taunton

July 18: First semi-final, Bristol

July 20: Second semi-final, Derby

July 23: Final, Lord's