Australia’s women are sitting pretty with a 6-4 lead in the multi-format series against India, but the selectors aren’t just resting on their laurels. After a clinical performance at Bellerive Oval on Friday, the focus has shifted to Sunday’s third ODI—and specifically, to whether a fresh face will take the new ball. The buzz in Hobart is centered on Lucy Hamilton, the 19-year-old left-arm quick who was initially brought into the fold as injury cover but is rapidly turning from a “just-in-case” option into a genuine selection headache.
The potential debut follows a string of unfortunate quad injuries to veterans Kim Garth and Ellyse Perry. National selector Shawn Flegler didn’t hide his interest in seeing what the teenager can do, noting that the team’s success has opened a window of opportunity. Speaking to Channel Seven, Flegler said, “That’s one of the opportunities for us. We’ll look at how things go today… hopefully we get another win, and then that gives us an opportunity to have a look at Luce possibly in game three.”
Hamilton has already been put through her paces, spending a lengthy period bowling in the Bellerive Oval nets to build up the “loads” required for the long-form game. Flegler emphasized that while the original plan was to integrate her slowly, the current circumstances have sped up her timeline.
“Lucy’s come in for the ODIs and that’s an opportunity for her to be around the squad just a little bit earlier than what was originally planned,” he explained.
“We’ll see how today goes, and perhaps there’s an opportunity for her on Sunday as well. We’re looking forward to seeing what she can do within this Australian side, I think she’s got a huge future ahead of her.”
The decision isn’t just about the youth movement, as the Hobart pitch is expected to be a “used” surface for Sunday’s clash. An aging deck usually means lower bounce and more assistance for the slow bowlers, which puts Georgia Wareham right back in the mix. “The wicket’s played really well so far, maybe it’ll keep a little bit lower on Sunday if we play on the same wicket, it might turn a little bit more,” Flegler observed. “We’ve also got Georgia Wareham champing at the bit to have a crack as well… we’ve got a couple of options there.”
While the ODI series is the immediate priority, the selectors are also managing the heavy workload of speedster Darcie Brown, who has played all five matches so far. With a day-night Test at the WACA looming, giving her a breather might be the smart move, especially as the squad looks to finalize their roster for the red-ball clash in Perth. Local all-rounder Nicola Carey filled in for the injured Sophie Molineux on Friday, and while she picked up a wicket, her economy rate has left the door open for others to push their case.
Looking ahead to the Test match, the Australian camp is expected to call up at least one more reinforcement before flying to Perth on Monday. While there is optimism that Perry could feature as a specialist batter, Garth appears unlikely to recover in time. Regarding the squad additions, Flegler confirmed the urgency of the situation, stating, “We’ll work through that over the next 24 to 48 hours, but we’ll certainly have to bring someone in.”
If Hamilton gets the nod on Sunday and performs, she might just find herself on the plane to Western Australia with a lot more than just “experience” under her belt. Australia will arrive in Perth on Monday, giving the squad three days to rest and recalibrate before the opening day at the WACA next Friday. With the series trophy within reach—a win on Sunday would officially retain the silverware—the blend of fresh talent and tactical resting will be the defining theme of the weekend.
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