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Big picture: How brave will India be?
It’s the match that will mark the end of Alyssa Healy’s international career, but it’s a contest where India will have to make all the running. Australia only need a draw to secure the multi-format series, having taken an 8-4 lead at the end of the ODI series. India need victory, worth four points, to square the ledger, although Australia have already retained the trophy that was last played for in 2021 with the previous series in India decided on individual formats.
Tests remain scarce in the women’s game – Australia were due to have another in the West Indies later this month but it has been dropped from the schedule – although these two sides play more than most so they have some experience to fall back on. Four days of cricket under lights at the WACA gives plenty of time for the game to play out naturally, but should the scenario arise where India need to push the tempo in order to set up the chance of a win, it will be interesting to see how aggressive they play.
The visitors played superbly to take the T20I series 2-1 – an encouraging sign for them in a T20 World Cup year – but were a long way short of the side that became world champions last year in the ODI series that followed with all three games one-sided, concluding with them being taken for more than 400. They will need the batting order, led by Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur, to shine because the bowling looks a little thin for the likely conditions in Perth, especially after the injury to Renuka Singh.
Australia have not been without injury issues of their own, with Kim Garth and Sophie Molineux ruled out, although the latter’s absence may have eased a tough selection call, while Ellyse Perry also missed the ODI series with a quad strain. The home side has batting riches, though, with the potential for Tahlia McGrath to be batting as low as No. 8 as she was originally carded to do against England last season.
In the spotlight: Annabel Sutherland and Kranti Gaud
Annabel Sutherland has a remarkable Test record, especially with the bat, where she currently holds an average of 83.71. Her last four innings in the format read: 137 not out, 16, 210 and 163. That double-century came at the WACA, against South Africa, two years ago – a match where she also claimed five wickets. In the Ashes last season, she was promoted to No. 3 after Perry suffered an injury and produced another masterclass of long-form batting.
It’s unknown how India’s pace attack will go in Perth given that in the absence of Renuka, none of the seam options have played Test cricket, but it should be exciting to watch Kranti Gaud operate with a pink ball in hand. The 22-year-old has shown promise, especially in ODIs, and has enough pace to prove a handful if she can maintain consistency.
Team news: Australia wait on Perry; India set for multiple new caps
Australia will wait until the day of the game to take a call on Perry as a specialist batter, but Healy said it was looking “really promising”. Healy also confirmed that she would bat in the middle and that there would be a debutant, with left-armer Lucy Hamilton the favourite although Maitlan Brown is an option. The uncapped batter Rachel Trenaman is also part of the squad.
Australia (possible) 1 Phoebe Litchfield, 2 Georgia Voll, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Alyssa Healy (capt), 5 Annabel Sutherland, 6 Beth Mooney (wk), 7 Ash Gardner, 8 Tahlia McGrath 9 Alana King, 10 Lucy Hamilton, 11 Darcie Brown
Pratika Rawal appears well placed to make a Test debut, as do Kashvee Gautam, called in as Renuka’s replacement, and Gaud. Another new cap could go to either Amanjot Kaur or Sayali Satghare.
India (possible) 1 Smriti Mandhana, 2 Pratika Rawal, 3 Shafali Verma, 4 Jemimah Rodrigues, 5 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 6 Deepti Sharma, 7 Richa Ghosh (wk), 8 Amanjot Kaur/Sayali Satghare, 9 Kashvee Gautam, 10 Sneh Rana, 11 Kranti Gaud
Pitch and conditions: Grassy surface, hot weather
Sheffield Shield pitches this season have generally provided good contests, leaning slightly towards the bowlers. There was a thick grass coverage on the surface the day before the game. Batting could be tough on day one before flattening out and spin could be a factor later in the match. The night sessions, particularly when it comes with a new ball, can play a big part in these Tests. It’s going to be a warm one with temperatures nudging towards 40 degrees on Saturday
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