'Real blow': Mark Taylor reacts to Australia's 'shock' World Cup defeat
Former Australian Test skipper Mark Taylor was so confident the Aussie women's side had the World Cup semi final won after the first innings that he went to bed.
Little did he know that India would chase down the mammoth 338 target, setting a World Cup record and knocking out the Australians.
The loss broke a run of 15 straight wins at World Cups for the Aussies, highlighting their dominance.
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Alyssa Healy of Australia removes her helmet as team mates appear dejected following defeat. ICC via Getty Images
Dropped catches and poor fielding opened the door for India, who capitalised as Jemimah Rodrigues made 127 to steer them to a shock victory.
Taylor sees no need for the Aussies to panic following the result, but did admit it came as a huge surprise to him the next morning.
"They've been the benchmark for women's sport and sport in general in this country for a while with what they've achieved," Taylor told Nine's WWOS.
"I think it was 15 straight World Cup wins prior to that loss, so it was a shock. When Australia made 338, I went 'done, I'm going to bed there's no way they're getting that'.
"They didn't field well. They dropped some catches they would normally take.
"But Phoebe Litchfield is a star of the future, Georgia Voll too. Alana King took seven wickets in a game, so Australia has some really good talent.
"So there's no need to panic for Australia. That was a bit of a shock loss and the first loss we've had in a World Cup I think for three World Cups now, so that's a real blow.
"I think at one stage we were 1/180 after 27 overs. We should've made more than 338. India still needed to chase down a world record, and they did it. They're on the rise no doubt about it."
Alyssa Healy speaks to media during the post-match press conference following Australia's defeat in its ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 semi-final match. Alex Davidson/ICC via Getty Images
Captain Alyssa Healy echoed that last sentiment in her post match press conference.
"We didn't finish off well with the bat and dropped all our chances in the field," said Healy.
"But we still hung in till the penultimate over, so we can take something from that. Ultimately, we were outdone in the end."
Litchfield was the star for the Aussies, making 119 off 93 balls and hitting 17 fours in the first innings, alongside Ellyse Perry who made 77.
India will face South Africa in the final of the Women's World Cup on Sunday night.
Australia will take on India again across February and March, with three T20s, two ODIs and a Test match set to take place on Aussie soil.
