Friends turn 'foes' as Aussies turn focus to WBBL

The ink in the record book was still drying when the Big Bash banter started flying in the Australian dressing rooms.

On a high after recording a record-breaking 18th consecutive ODI win, the ultra-competitive members of the unstoppable Australian side are already itching to pit themselves against each other when the Rebel Women's Big Bash League season begins next Friday, October 18.

"The banter's already started downstairs," Alyssa Healy quipped. "We love it."

Australia captain Meg Lanning added: "We're all really competitive in the nets, so it's next level in the game.

"It's always good fun, it's really competitive.

"All done in good spirit, but I think that's only going to make us better."

But for one more night at least, with coach Matthew Mott set to host a team barbecue, the Australian squad will remain intact to reflect on an emphatic series win to cap off a remarkable period of dominance in the 50-over format.

It's been almost two years since Australia came out on the wrong end of a one-dayer.

However, Belinda Clark – captain of the Australian side of the late 1990s that previously held the record just broken – was on hand at Allan Border Field to remind Lanning and the team that they're not in the clear just yet.

"She [Clark] sent me a message saying her team only lost two games out of 33, so we need to keep going," Lanning said.

"We've got one record, but we need to make sure we keep going – we're under strict instructions."

No matter which way you look at it, it's hard to see anyone standing in the way of the Australian juggernaut as they prepare for, yes, even more cricket.

Once the WBBL season wraps up in early December, there is a T20 Tri-Series to play in January before the main event: the T20 World Cup in Australia in February 2020.

"Our group is as hungry as ever to keep improving and keep being successful," Lanning said.

"We've obviously got a bit of chance to go into a different environment, and keep improving our games, keep adding to our games and that's a really exciting thing.

"Once we're in January, we'll get back together as a group and hopefully continue be successful."

With T20 gear about to hit full throttle ahead of the home World Cup, Lanning is firmly of the belief that the WBBL competition is an invaluable way to prepare for the showpiece tournaments played on the world stage.

"The WBBL really does prepare you extremely well for international cricket," said the Australia captain.

"It gets you on the big stage, in front of crowds, on TV and the style of cricket is great as well.

"You've got the world's best players from overseas and in Australia playing and it's a great standard.

"As we've seen over the last few tours, we've brought players in who've been playing in the WBBL – they've fitted in seamlessly and have looked at home on the international stage."

Not only is there the mouth-watering prospect of Ellyse Perry in magenta steaming in to Lanning in Scorchers kit, with a T20 World Cup to come – all signs point to the most exciting edition of WBBL yet.