She hopes to extend her international career as cricket prepares for a new era on the Olympic stage
Australia batter and wicketkeeper Beth Mooney is targeting the 2029 Women’s Cricket World Cup and a possible appearance at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics as she prepares to reach 100 one-day internationals.
The 32-year-old is set to achieve the milestone in Wednesday’s third and final ODI against Bangladesh at Allan Border Field, with Australia already holding an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
Mooney has scored 3,288 runs at an average of 49.81 in the format, including six centuries, placing her seventh on Australia’s all-time ODI run-scoring list.
Australia’s semi-final defeat by India at the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup remains a driving force for Mooney, who hopes to help the team reclaim the title in 2029.
“There was a lot of bitter disappointment from that World Cup loss in India 12 months ago now,” Mooney was quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press.
Australia have since won the Women’s T20 World Cup, with Mooney scoring 238 runs in seven innings, including an unbeaten 64 in the final against England.
But the left-hander is keen to add the 50-over crown to her collection.
“The 50-over one is what you want to win as well,” she said, adding that her immediate goal was to perform well enough to earn selection for the 2029 tournament.
Mooney also believes the prospect of competing at the Olympics could extend her international career, with cricket scheduled to feature at the Los Angeles 2028 Games and potentially at Brisbane 2032.
“Certainly the Olympics is definitely an enticing one for players to hang around a bit longer,” she said.
The Brisbane Games could offer Mooney the opportunity to compete on home soil at the age of 38.
“Hopefully I’m still around, but that’s a long way away,” she said, adding that her focus remained on contributing to Australia and helping younger players develop.
Mooney also welcomed the attacking approach of young openers Georgia Voll and Phoebe Litchfield, who shared a 162-run partnership in Australia’s nine-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the second ODI.
“The 50-over game is becoming a lot more modern, and we’re seeing Phoebe and Georgia really take the game on,” she said.
Australia will next face New Zealand in a three-match home T20 international series before turning their attention to the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy, scheduled for early next year.