Image: India team is keen to overcome batting problems and fine-tune preparations in the crucial ODI series / © Cric-Mate
India’s women’s cricket team heads into a challenging ODI series against Australia, starting Thursday in Brisbane, with an eye on addressing persistent batting issues. This series marks a critical step in India’s buildup to the 2024 Women’s ODI World Cup, as they seek to stabilize their lineup and regain confidence after a mixed performance in recent games.
The visitors, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, are fresh off a 2-1 series victory against New Zealand but continue to struggle with inconsistency in their batting order. Smriti Mandhana has been a standout performer, averaging 75 in her last six ODIs, but the team is missing opener Shafali Verma, who dropped due to poor form. Kaur’s batting slump, including a series of low scores in the previous Australia series, is an equal headache.
Australia, under new captain Tahlia McGrath, faces its hurdles. The absence of regular skipper Alyssa Healy due to injury and a nine-month gap in ODI cricket could make their task harder. However, they have experienced players like Ellyse Perry, the name which speaks for itself. Youngster Georgia Voll is set to make her debut, adding a fresh dynamic to the side.
India’s bowling lineup, featuring Saima Thakor and Deepti Sharma, offers hope, with Sharma’s economy rate of 3.6 in the last series standing out. Meanwhile, conditions in Brisbane—hot, humid, with chances of rain could play a crucial role.
With a dismal record of just four wins in 16 ODIs Down Under, India faces an uphill battle against an Australian side known for its dominance in 50-over cricket. The series will test India’s resolve as they prepare for the challenges of hosting the World Cup next year.