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Aussies out to make a statement: Healy

Australia will come out all guns blazing against the White Ferns on Saturday, with the World T20 on the horizon

Wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy says Australia are out to make a serious statement of intent against New Zealand, and to the rest of the world, when the teams meet in their opening T20 International at North Sydney Oval on Saturday night.

The three-match Commonwealth Bank T20 International series will serve as a key marker for the Australians as to how they're positioned less than two months out from November's World T20 in the Caribbean, and the No.1 ranked Australians are expecting a tough fight from the White Ferns, who were semi-finalists at the most recent tournament in 2016.

"It's a massive 12 to 18 months coming up for us and that World T20 in November is sitting at the back of our minds," Healy said ahead of Australian training on Wednesday.

"The next six T20 games we've got (against NZ and Pakistan) coming up are a big opportunity for us to show the rest of the world the way we're going to approach our cricket and Saturday night is the start of that against a really good opposition too.

"It'll be a good marker for us to see how going."

New Zealand boast some of the world's most damaging T20 players in their ranks in the likes of Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine. Australia too have some serious weaponry at their disposal in captain Meg Lanning, allrounder Ellyse Perry, seamer Megan Schutt and the always dangerous Healy.

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But a recent poor record in T20 series at home – Australia have lost their past two, including one to the White Ferns in February last year – means there's plenty to prove on Saturday night.

"I'm expecting as always a really tough contest, they're a fantastic side who have some real match winners in their team who can tear you apart one day and the next as well," Healy said.

"It's a great opportunity to get out there and see where we're at – and to show them exactly where we are at as well.

"Hopefully we'll get them on the back foot early. We haven't won a home T20 series for a little while so it's a good chance for us to get out there and do that."

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Australia's training plans were scuppered by wet weather on Wednesday, with their session at Drummoyne Oval cut short by rain before a planned hit out under lights at North Sydney Oval was abandoned all together.

But in a pleasing sign for the hosts, exciting allrounder Ashleigh Gardner made an appearance in the nets after missing last weekend's domestic 50-over action due to the ongoing effects of concussion, a good indication she'll be passed fit to play on Saturday.

Lanning's team will have a chance to hit their stride on Thursday when they meet a strong CA XI team captained by one-day opener Nicole Bolton in a warm-up match at Manly Oval.

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"It's another chance for us to get into our T20 stride, we've had a lot of 50-over cricket of late so it's a chance to get out and play against the next best in Australia," Healy said.

"It's something we're really looking forward to and the CA XI girls always looking to beat the Aussie team. I know when I was in that side that's exactly what we were trying to do.

"It'll be a competitive contest and hopefully we can get out there and get into our T20 work."

Thursday's warm-up game will be streamed live and free on cricket.com.au, the CA Live app and on the Australian Women's Cricket Team Facebook page.

CommBank T20 INTLs v NZ 

Australia T20 squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

September 29: First T20I, North Sydney Oval, Sydney

October 1: Second T20I, Allan Border Field, Brisbane

October 5: Third T20I, Manuka Oval, Canberra


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