Pace is Australia’s new weapon as it looks to add another World Cup trophy to the cabinet

Fear through speed is the new line of attack for Australia’s all-conquering women’s team, with coach Matthew Mott confident pace could be the key to their next World Cup success.

The extended 17-player Australian squad, isolating in Christchurch, includes uncapped South Australian teenager Darcie Brown alongside fellow fiery quick Tayla Vlaeminck for a six match series against the Kiwis starting next week.

Mott said he wanted to “ruffle a few feathers” with his new firepower and the extra fast bowlers in the squad – with Belinda Vakarewa and Hannah Darlington also on hand – to ensure he has pace in every match during the tight 12-day schedule.

“We certainly want to make a statement with some fast bowlers,” Mott said from New Zealand.

“I think it‘s a real point of difference which we’ve now got which we haven’t had that much in the (recent past).

“The selection panel is really committed to trying to get pace into our attack.

“I think for a while in the world game pace off the ball has worked extremely well, and we‘ve used that well.

“But with a World Cup coming up … we‘ll try and stay ahead of the (curve) and see what will work over here.

“Definitely there will be a pace flavour and swing (to the attack).

“That‘s why you have Darcie Brown and Tayla Vlaeminck in there … (they) can come in and hopefully ruffle a few feathers.”

The extended squad is quarantining in Christchurch ahead of the three ODIs and three T20s that could serve as perfect preparation for the one-day World Cup in New Zealand next March and April.

Mott’s crew are now allowed to leave their hotel rooms for four hours a day to train, and their isolation will end 24 hours ahead of their first match in Hamilton on March 28.

The national coach knows there could be some early pain with his all-pace plans, especially given Brown only turned 18 earlier this month and has played just one season of WBBL. Vlaeminck is also on the comeback from a long-term foot injury.

But Mott is looking at the longer-term goal of World Cup success.

“(Pace) is really what we‘re trying to back,” he said.

“The other part of that is there‘s probably a bit of short-term pain in that, those bowlers might go for more runs but we need to back our long-term plans as well.

“(But) you need a (complete) squad to win a World Cup. You‘ve always got a few things that throw a spanner in the works late.

“So we want to broaden our thinking as much as we can, have back-up plans and make sure players have the opportunity to excel in the conditions and show how much they can adapt.”