The historic series between the Australian and Indian women is now all set to begin from September 21st. The Indian side as well as the Australian players from New South Wales and Victoria completed the quarantine periods on the 13th and both squads are done with their warm-up matches as well.
The pandemic posed several problems for the series but Cricket Australia effectively found solutions in time. The series was originally scheduled to be played in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth but has been entirely relocated to Queensland. The two teams will first play 3 ODIs on September 21, 24, and 26 at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay followed by the historic pink-ball day and night Test match at the Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast between September 30 and October 3. The third and concluding part of the series will be 3T20s once again to be played at the Metricon Stadium on October 7, 9, and 10.
Touchdown Mackay 📍#TeamIndia arrive in Mackay for the 1st #AUSvIND ODI 👍 pic.twitter.com/zWp4uo1coc
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) September 19, 2021
Format for the Series
The series will be played in the same point-based system as the Ashes Tournament offering two points for each limited-overs win and four points for winning the Test match. In case of a tied or drawn Test, the points will be split between the teams. India will be the second country after England against whom the Australian women will play a multi-format series. Hence, since there is no current holder for the new trophy, it will be shared if both teams scored eight points each at the end of the series.
Australia to miss their Star Bowlers
The final squad for Australia faced several changes with their world’s two highest-ranked ODI bowlers Megan Schutt and Jess Jonassen backing out. Jonassen suffered a stress reaction in her lower leg while Schutt just welcomed her first child with wife Jess Holyoake. Tayla Vlaeminck will also not be playing the three ODIs and Test matches due to injury concerns. The withdrawals led to the entry of Georgia Redmayne, Stella Campbell, Maitlan Brown, Annabel Sutherland and Darcie Brown.
#ICYMI, here’s a highlight of the Practice Match played between India and Australia on 18th Sept. pic.twitter.com/wASsQJ4p9c
#AUSvIND— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) September 19, 2021
Team India’s New-Comers
India’s injured pair Harmanpreet Kaur and Rajeshwari Gayakwad have been named in the squad. The T20 skipper Kaur suffered a quad injury during the Hundred tournament while left-arm spinner Gayakwad missed her recent tour of the UK due to a knee problem. Three uncapped players also received their call ups; medium-pacer Meghna Singh, left-handed batter Yastika Bhatia, and allrounder Renuka Singh Thakur.
Where to buy Tickets?
Residents of Queensland can purchase tickets to attend the matches and watch the women live in action at the stadium. The matches will also be broadcasted live on the Seven Network and Fox Sports. One can also go to cricket.com.au or sign-up on the CA Live app to watch the live matches online and view the highlights post matches. Streaming via Kayo Sports can also be done. The Scoop Podcast hosted by Emily Collin and Laura Jolly will have a chat with the players and provide all the information and news needed to know.
Squad
Australia Squad: Meg Lanning (captain), Rachael Haynes (vice-captain), Darcie Brown, Maitlan Brown, Stella Campbell, Nicola Carey, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Redmayne, Moll Strano, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck and Georgia Wareham.
Indian Test and ODI squad: Mithali Raj (captain), Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Punam Raut, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Yastika Bhatia, Taniya Bhatia (wicket-keeper), Shikha Pandey, Jhulan Gowami, Meghna Singh, Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav, Richa Ghosh and Ekta Bisht.
Indian T20I squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Yastika Bhatia, Shikha Pandey, Meghna Singh, Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav, Richa Ghosh (wicket-keeper), Harleen Deol, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav and Renuka Singh.
Schedule – India Women’s tour of Australia 2021
September 21: First ODI, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay
September 24: Second ODI, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay
September 26: Third ODI, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay
September 30 – October 3: Test Match, Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast
October 7: First T20, Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast
October 9: Second T20, Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast
October 10: Third T20, Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast.
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