Australia back at full strength side for World Cup showdown with New Zealand

Australia coach Matthew Mott says his side will be at full strength for the match of the Women’s Cricket World Cup so far, a clash with dangerous hosts New Zealand on Sunday.

The Australians had their first runout on the Basin Reserve on Friday, the picturesque venue for four of their next five matches, including the White Ferns. Mott was delighted to see allrounder Tahlia McGrath show her fitness after missing the seven-wicket win over Pakistan.

“T Mac had a great run up there in the nets ... it was a grumbly little foot and it’s a lot better,” he said.

Despite spending 10 days in isolation after testing positive to Covid-19, Ash Gardner also looms as a certain starter to take on the Kiwis. Asked what the allrounder needed to do to prove her fitness, Mott said “not a lot”.

“It’d be different if she was a fast bowler. As a spinner and where she bats in the order, she would have have held her fitness ... she’ll come straight back in,” he said.

The availability of all 15 players creates a selection logjam for the Aussies, who are two from two and will take a giant leap to securing their semi-final place by beating New Zealand.

Spinner Alana King looks undroppable after two terrific displays, Jess Jonassen came up trumps in a final-over showdown against England, meaning Amanda-Jade Wellington could make way.

After a wayward outing against England, pace bowler Darcie Brown was rested against Pakistan but could provide the X-factor if selected.

“We’ve got some discussions today. I’m catching up with Meg this afternoon and the selectors,” he said. “It’s gonna be a really tricky selection for us. I think we’d always planned for Darcy to come back in, but we have to work out with the conditions here.

“We’ll try and balance out