Indore: The stage is set at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore for a blockbuster ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 group‑league showdown between Australia Women and England Women on October 22, 2025. The scheduled start is 3 pm IST, with the toss likely about 20‑30 minutes earlier at 2:30 pm .
The conditions look favourable: expecting warm, clear skies with minimal rain risk. Indore’s surface is known to be flat and batter‑friendly — early movement may help pacers, but as the game goes on and dew sets in, chasing is often the smarter call.
Pitch and Conditions
Holkar Stadium typically offers true bounce and little lateral assistance. Given the sub‑continental setting, spinners are likely to come into play as the innings progresses. With dew expected in the evening, the team batting second may get the edge. As a result, the toss may prove crucial — whoever wins is likely to opt to field first and chase.
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Playing Squads
Australia Women
Australia have named a 15‑member squad led by Alyssa Healy, with vice‑captain Tahlia McGrath bringing additional experience.
The squad features seasoned campaigners such as Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner and Megan Schutt — ten of the 15 were part of the 2022 World Cup campaign.
Notably, five players (e.g., Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Voll, Kim Garth, Georgia Wareham and Sophie Molineux) have been selected for their first 50‑over World Cup, injecting fresh energy and talent.
Australia’s combination of stroke‑making batters and varied spin gives them a well‑balanced look for the Indian conditions.
England Women
England’s 15‑strong squad is led by Nat Sciver‑Brunt making her first ICC tournament as captain, following the recall of former skipper Heather Knight from injury.
The squad trusts spin heavily for sub‑continent success: four specialist spinners (Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Linsey Smith and Charlie Dean) are included.
Batting‑wise, England bring depth through experienced names like Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones, Sophia Dunkley and the all‑round talent of Nat Sciver‑Brunt herself. The blend of seasoned heads and spin options gives England the look of a serious contender.
Team Form and Outlook
Australia come into the match with formidable form, topping the early table and carrying the momentum of being seven‑time champions. Their mix of experience and emerging talent has looked sharp.
England, meanwhile, remain unbeaten and look dangerous — but they face questions around maintaining consistency under pressure and converting advantage into big wins. Their spin‑heavy approach may suit the conditions well.
Prediction
Given the conditions, squad strength and historical edge, Australia are slight favourites in this showdown. Their batting firepower plus variety in bowling gives them a subtle edge. However, England’s spinners and new leadership under Sciver‑Brunt mean they cannot be discounted. If England win th