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On Tuesday, the teams will lock horns in the first of the three-match ODI series at Harrup Park, Mackay in Queensland.
The Australian women have an incredible win ratio of 4.190 wins per loss in the five decades of history. The five-time champions haven’t lost a bilateral series since 2013. Meg Lanning’s team are on a record 24-match winning streak. The last time these two teams met in ODIs, Australia hammered the hosts by 3-0 in India.
India Women lost to South Africa at home by 1-4 earlier this year. They did well across formats on their recent tour to England and managed to win the third ODI by four wickets after losing the first two. Mithali Raj-led India have a huge task as India has never won a bilateral series against Australia Women.
With this series, both teams will have an opportunity to fasten their preparations for the next year’s ODI World Cup in New Zealand.
Key Players
Meg Lanning is one of the finest players the women’s game has ever seen and has taken Australian cricket to new heights. She has a dynamic ability to play aggressive as well as composed game depending on the situation.
The Megastar has an incredible record in the fifty overs format, having scored 3985 runs in 85 matches at a magnificent average of 53.76 and strike rate of 93.85. She has 14 tons and 15 fifties to her name in this format, with the best of 152*.
Alyssa Healy, arguably the best opening batter in women’s cricket, has done an outstanding job for Australia. Healy’s ability to take bowlers on at will, makes her a huge threat to the opponents. The destructive opener has 1927 in 68 innings at an average of 33.80 while striking at an incredible rate of 102.60. She has three centuries and 12 half centuries in the format. Healy has smashed 539 runs in her last 10 matches averaging 59.89 at a strike rate of 115.17.
Mithali Raj is the greatest women’s cricketer India has ever produced. The veteran batter has been a pillar of the Indian women’s team for two decades. Mithali has had a stellar career in the fifty overs format as the leading run-getter in the history.
She has 7304 runs in 196 innings at an excellent average of 51.86, including seven hundreds and 58 fifties. Mithali has been in terrific form, scoring 476 runs in the last 10 matches at 68 average.
Ellyse Perry is one of the most influential figures in women’s cricket. She has scored 3107 runs in 92 ODI innings at an exceptional average of 51.78 with two tons and 28 fifties. The 30-year-old also has 152 wickets at 24.5 runs a piece, with the best figures of 7/22.
Perry has three five-wicket hauls and a four-fer to her name. She has slowly been getting back to her full fitness and will play a big role.
The all-rounder Deepti Sharma has been excellent for India in her career so far and has become one of the key players.
Deepti adds a lot of value in the middle order, having scored 1541 runs in 61 matches at an average of 37.58, with one hundred and 10 fifties. The off-spinner has 68 wickets in the format while conceding at less than 4 rpo, with best bowling of 6/20.
Prediction
The history is in favour of Australia, who have defeated India in 37 out of 46 matches while India have won 9. The recent form is also on Australia’s side, who have clean swept their opponents in each of the last eight bilateral series.
India are a much-improved side as they have a good mixture of youth in Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Meghna Singh and experience in Mithali, Jhulan Goswami, Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur. The Indian team also bats deep. However, scoring rates will be an issue in the middle order.
Australia Women are a well-balanced side. They have the pace and quality spin. Their batting unit is the strongest in world cricket, with Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Beth Mooney, Rachel Haynes, Ash Gardner all in great form.
Ellyse Perry getting back to her best is also a great sign for the hosts. Expect them to continue their domination to go 1-0 up in the series.
