As the world battles with the global lockdown, cricket seems to have taken a hit as well. Action on the field has frozen but that doesn’t restrict the players to be ready for the resumption. With the men’s, it is the IPL, if it happens, and the T20 world cup to look ahead. For the women, the action is centered in New Zealand for the future.
In the light of the upcoming world cup, Australian vice-captain Rachael Haynes said that she is willing to take on any role that the one-day team will need. She was talking primarily of the upcoming 50-over World cup on Wednesday. As fans will remember, Haynes was opening the batting for her side alongside Healy in one-day series against Sri Lanka last year. She got herself a marvelous tally of 237 runs. Importantly, she got her first ton in the same series. She is 33 and as a veteran for the team, she has accepted batting role in all positions one could think of.
She batted from one to eight number batting positions in her decade long career. Her performance as an opener has been wonderful with nearly 950 runs and a healthy average touching 38. Her chances, while batting in the middle order, reduce and so the numbers as expected. She has scored 666 runs with an average of 30 in the middle order. Recently, she opened up about her batting position and said that she is not looking at any particular batting position.
Moreover, she added that she considers it useful for the team to have flexibility in batting. As reported by Dave Middleton for cricket.com.au, she leaves the concern around her batting position to the assessment of the head coach and the captain. The way they would want the Aussie batting line up to look is what, Haynes says would, set the tone of her batting position. She recalls that her comeback and the inclusion into the side over the last couple of years have been versatile.
In the ODI setup, she agrees of having played different roles as the team needed. Matt, the head coach and the Meg would decide and call her for what role that the team needs for Haynes. The ICC cricket world cup 2021 is scheduled to be held in New Zealand. From February 6 to 7 March, women from best cricketing nations will face each other to get the trophy in their respective cabinets. With semi-finals on March 3 and 4, the winners will meet in finals on 7th March. Thankfully, 8th March is the reserve day.
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