Australian leg-spinner Alana King is behind one of her team’s best-ever performances at a women’s international tournament. Team Australia is unbeaten so far after 7 games at the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 (W6, 1 abandoned), and King’s contribution is a major boost to their current campaign.
The Australian dazzled in front of a thrilled audience as her side ran circles around S/Africa women to ensure a top-table finish. King’s rising profile is not just due to her on-field ability, as the spinner has family ties to India.
King’s 7-Wicket Haul Bullies South Africa Out of Top-Table Contention
South Africa trailed Australia in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 rankings and eyed a sensational upset against their opponents; however, Alana had other plans. The skilled spinner went on rampage against South Africa Women cricketers to seize 7 wickets off 18 balls.
Alana bowled out the opposing team in style to break their 5-game winning streak. King’s contribution ensured Australia won the tie with 190+ balls left.
Dinesh Karthik Comments on King’s Abilities
Former Team India cricketer Dinesh Karthik heaped praise on King as he assessed her abilities with the ball against South Africa:
“It was an absolute gold standard in how to bowl wrist spin. She got the ball to drift, and most importantly, she used the pitch to her advantage. There were some turned quite a bit while some didn’t turn as much, as the ball hit the grassy parts on the pitch and skidded straight. There were some bald patches in the pitch and some grassy ones, and she used that to her advantage. It was wonderful to see someone target the stumps so consistently,” Karthik said.
King Speaks on Early Background, Nostalgia from Bowling at MCG
Alana King’s parents hail from Chennai, India, but she spent most of her life in Australia. The women’s cricket star says her career began as a sporting hobby nurtured at her parent’s backyard:
“My cricket career started in the backyard, which quickly moved to the front yard after me and my brother broke too many pot plants and a couple of windows as well. My brother initially got me out because I was bowling to him all the time, but the roles quickly reversed as I started to get him a fair bit,” King said.
King revealed her role model is the late great Shane Warne and expressed delight after bowling from a stand named after him at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG):
“Bowling from the Shane Warne stand end … it’s the first time I’ve ever done it, playing here (for the first time) since the stand’s been named after him. Pretty nostalgic. He’s obviously taken plenty of poles at the MCG for fun, so all I can say is, hopefully he’s smiling down and having a couple of beers and enjoying a few ripping past the outside edge,” she added.
Australia at Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 So Far
The women’s team have been in fine form so far, seeing off every team including the hosts in style. Alana King and co. are set to face India in the semifinal on October 30, 2025. See their progress below:
| Date | Venue | Teams | Result |
| Oct 1, 2025 | Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore | Australia Women — 326 (49.3) NZ Women — 237 (43.2) | Australia Women won by 89 runs |
| Oct 4, 2025 | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | S/Lanka Women vs Australia Women | Match abandoned due to rain (No toss) |
| Oct 8, 2025 | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | Australia Women — 221/9 (50) Pakistan Women — 114 (36.3) | Australia Women won by 107 runs |
| Oct 12, 2025 | ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam | India Women — 330 (48.5) Australia Women — 331/7 (49) | Australia Women won by 3 wickets |
| Oct 16, 2025 | ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam | Bangladesh Women — 198/9 (50) Australia Women — 202/0 (24.5) | Australia Women won by 10 wickets |
| Oct 22, 2025 | Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore | England Women — 244/9 (50) Australia Women — 248/4 (40.3) | Australia Women won by 6 wickets |
| Oct 25, 2025 | Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore | South Africa Women — 97 (24) Australia Women — 98/3 (16.5) | Australia Women won by 7 wickets |
| Oct 30, 2025 | Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai | Australia Women vs India Women |
Australia Women World Cup 2025 Full Squad
Phoebe Litchfield (Batsman), Georgia Voll (Batsman), Ashleigh Gardner (Batting Allrounder), Tahlia McGrath (Batting Allrounder), Ellyse Perry (Batting Allrounder), Sophie Molineux (Bowling Allrounder), Kim Garth (Bowling Allrounder), Alana King (Bowling Allrounder), Annabel Sutherland (Bowling Allrounder), Heather Graham (Bowling Allrounder), Alyssa Healy (Captain, WK-Batsman), Beth Mooney (WK-Batsman), Darcie Brown (Bowler), Megan Schutt (Bowler), Georgia Wareham (Bowler).
