Australia coach Matthew Mott says modifications are probably going to be centered around group executions to squad makeup.
Australia’s women will proceed to search for the ideal T20 formula when they play against Sri Lanka later this month in a limited-overs whirlwind tournament on home soil. The T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia next February and March, is getting nearer and with that in mind, Australia coach Matthew Mott advised that there will be some ‘tinkering’ against their subcontinent rivals in the three 20-over games. But fresh off an undefeated campaign in the Caribbean – which included wins by six, nine and nine wickets in the three T20Is – it’s not the personnel he’ll be looking to make changes to, rather the way in which they are employed.
“We’ve still got some tinkering to do,” Mott said after Barbados ‘ final T20I. (as stated on cricket.com.au)
“We’ll tinker a bit in the T20s against Sri Lanka with that batting order and make sure we get the right formula with a big year heading into the T20 World Cup.
“I’m really happy with the way the bowing unit is going.
“There have been some great changes there, even seeing Megan Schutt trying new things like coming around the wicket to the left-handers, stuff like that, is fantastic.
“Our batting got better each game, our first chase wasn’t our best but the last two we did it in style.”
During their three ODIs and three T20Is in Antigua and Barbados, Australia was rarely under stress against an injury-ravaged West Indian squad that was without six of their finest XI by the moment the final game at Kensington Oval turned around on Wednesday. Focusing on their own achievements and strategies – and keeping each other into consideration – was important as Australia continuously looked for aspects to enhance its own play, Mott said.
“To be able to still be fresh and have energy at the end of this tour has been a real test.
“But they all hold each other to account and when we review our matches, it’ not so much about the opposition but about what we can control. So if we’d slackened off (in the last T20) the review would reflect that, but everyone was up and about and we’re pretty happy with the performance.”
Australia’s T20I teams and the three subsequent ODIs will be declared next Wednesday, with few surprises, if any, predicted.
“It’ll be pretty close to what we’ve got here, the main changes will be in batting orders and stuff like that,” Mott said.
“We’ve got a strong nucleus of players here who we’ve earmarked to take into the World Cup.
“There’s a WNCL round which is a good opportunity for other players to put their hand up and show what they can do, but I’m pretty sure we’ll be staying close to this 14.”
Victorian allrounder Sophie Molineux, who continues her recovery from shoulder surgery, was absent from the Caribbean tour. Molineux made her comeback halfway through the Ashes in England in July after heading under the gun in early march, but with her knee still, on the mend she stayed out of the Caribbean tournament to concentrate on full recovery.
“We’ve had good reports from Soph, she’s going well,” Mott said. “She’s probably still a couple of weeks’ away yet but she’s ticking a lot of boxes and starting to get back into the swing of cricket things.
“We’ve been really cautious with her, we didn’t want to rush her especially with a World Cup coming up.”
Another player missing from the Windies visit was ODI opener Nicole Bolton, who made herself inaccessible for choice for the arrangement to concentrate on her psychological well-being. It stays to be seen whether she will be accessible to play Sri Lanka, yet the Western Australian came back to the field on Saturday in the opening round of the 50-over Women’s National Cricket League.
“Bolts and I have been in touch via WhatsApp and she’s in a really good frame of mind and looking forward to the first round of the WNCL,” Mott said.
“For her, it’s just about re-entering and getting back into the swing of things and hopefully scoring some runs, but she seems really happy which is great.”
The Sri Lankan T20I and ODI teams will be appointed on September 25, short of the first T20 on Sunday, September 29 at North Sydney Oval.
Source: cricket.com.au
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