Australia Hold Points Edge on Return to T20 Familiarity But India Pushing Hard
India have won the last four days of this multi-format series. And if it were not for the no-ball in the second ODI it would have gone into the deciding T20I with a 6-4 advantage, not Australia.
After an opening match at Mackay, where Australia were walking to victory. It developed into a very entertaining competition. In which the home team challenged in all areas of their game. The absence of Megan Schutt and Jess Jonassen from the bowling attack has been greatly felt. Whereas the balance of the team has changed with the departure of Rachel Haynes.
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Australia will continue to manage its young pace
However, they will get a boost from the return of fast bowler Tayla Vlaminck. Those who have recovered from the Achilles problem. Chances are she will play two out of three matches as Australia continue to manage their young pace.
To say that Australia cricket has been shaken for quite some time now. But it’s what made the series all the more compelling. Maintaining a point lead means they need to win just one out of three T20Is. to ensure that they cannot be extended. But a series win would be his only pass mark.
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Winning three consecutive matches against it is a big challenge
India’s T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur, preparing to come back from injury, said, “We have a great chance to win three T20s, then we will be done.” Winning three consecutive matches against Australia is a big challenge. But it will be a great achievement.
Australia are confident of returning to the shortest format – the first time the two teams have met since the T20 World Cup final. With familiarity providing at least one comfort zone for Captain Meg Lanning. But T20 is also a format where the difference between teams can be further reduced.
“There are guys in [India] who can take you down. And they have really good depth in their team,” Lanning said. “We were expecting a really tough challenge from them. And we’ve definitely got that. It’s a good test for our group.
“Everyone found the last week of Tests to be a challenge in different ways. It’s a format in which we don’t play a lot. And having experience in different conditions. You have a lot of unknowns and really I’m not sure how to approach the situations.’ Wasn’t earlier. Now coming to the T20 format it’s something that we know very well and everyone is very clear about their role.
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Darcy Brown and Stella Campbell, who were among four players to make Test debuts at the Metricon Stadium, are unlikely to feature in the opening game. And can be used lightly in series before WBBL. Hannah Darlington, who has made a name for herself as a death bowler in the WBBL, will be back in the frame as all-rounder Nicola Carey. Tahlia McGrath will likely make her T20I debut while Matlen Brown could get her first international cap during the series.
Australia’s Test team felt overweight with bowling options
Australia’s Test team felt overweight with their bowling choices. But they are ready to fill Haynes’ absence with an all-rounder instead of Georgia Redmayne.
Lanning said, “All our all-rounders are very good with the bat. They can be batsmen in their own right. So it is a bit of a luxury for us.” “Balance is important, it’s important to have that variety with the ball. And match with the conditions. We think we have really good depth in those areas. Just need to make sure we make those selections.” Correct.”
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Catching during the Test match was a problem for both the teams and during the final ODI also Australia’s fielding was not at its normal level. The lights will be in full effect by the time the T20I begins, so there won’t be the awkward twilight period to negotiate, while it will be a white ball against a red seat instead of a pink one.
Lanning said, “It was a challenge in the Twilight Period. But there really was no excuse and I was the main culprit in leaving a lot of them out.” “They were the ones we should have taken. Definitely looking to get better on the field, even in ODIs we didn’t fix it. It’s something we are proud of.”