In the glowing sunshine of Perth’s W.A.C.A. Ground, 19-year-old left-arm pace bowling all-rounder Lucy Hamilton burst onto the Test arena like a duck to water, claiming a debut three-wicket haul that turned heads and tilted the balance towards the home side on day 1 of the Pink-Ball Test.
Hamilton’s spell of 11-3-31-3 dismantled key Indian batters, underscoring her meteoric rise from domestic star to international disruptor. The series backdrop adds high stakes: India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, snatched the three-match T20I leg 2-1 after winning the opener by 21 runs (DLS), losing the second by 19 runs, and clinching the decider by 17.
However, Australia bounced back ruthlessly in the ODIs, whitewashing the visitors with victories by 6 wickets, 5 wickets, and a whopping 185 runs. The multi-format tally stands at 8-4 for the hosts, though this four-point Test offers India a shot at parity with a win.
Wicket-keeper batter and skipper Alyssa Healy, amplifying the drama in her swansong, in her 299th and final international appearance before retiring from the game, won the toss and bowled first. India crumbled to 198 all-out in 62.4 overs, with Jemimah Rodrigues’ gritty 52 off 84 balls the lone resistance.
Shafali Verma (35 off 48), Kashvee Gautam (34* off 54 balls) and Harmanpreet Kaur (19 off 15) fought valiantly, but Australia’s seam attack dominated: Annabel Sutherland (17-5-46-4), Hamilton (11-3-31-3), and Darcie Brown (12.4-0-41-2) shared 9 wickets. Hamilton’s victims were Smriti Mandhana (4 off 13), Rodrigues (52 off 84), and Sneh Rana (5 off 8), reflected her talent and potential at such a young age.
Lucy Hamilton’s path to this moment screams promise. The domestic sensation earned a surprise ODI call-up, replacing injured Kim Garth, debuting in the third match on March 1 with tidy figures of 9-1-46-0. Earlier, in the fourth edition of the WPL for Delhi Capitals, she dazzled with the bat, smashing 36 runs at a blistering 189.47 strike rate lower down the order. With Australia at 96/3 in 27 overs (trailing by 102 at stumps), her all-round flair could play a crucial role in Alyssa Healy’s farewell clash.
This pink-ball cauldron at W.A.C.A. isn’t just a debut; it’s Hamilton’s manifesto. At 19, she’s the fresh face Australia craves post-Healy, blending raw pace, left-arm swing, and lower-order menace. The visitors must tackle her smartly to keep them in the hunt in the contest.
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