Once lauded as potentially Australia’s most successful team, is the crown slipping for the women’s cricket side?
From 2010-2022, the team won eight out of 10 ICC trophies. However, in the last 18 months, the team has failed to reach both finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and the recently completed ICC ODI World Cup.
But they did win the Ashes convincingly last summer over a disappointing English side.
Now they host ODI World Cup Champions India, who knocked Australia out in the semifinals by five wickets late last year.
That historic changing of the guard moment has set up a bumper series made up of three T20s, three ODIs and a Test match.
For the Aussies, it is a chance to reaffirm their dominance on the world stage in a multi-format series. The first T20 starts Sunday at the SCG and the cherry on the top is a day-night Test Match at the WACA to finish the tour.
For India, they can confirm themselves as the new powerhouse by doing the unthinkable, beating Australia on home soil.
It’s something they have never done, and this is probably their best chance to do it.
With no ICC title in the cabinet Molineux only has six months to turn things around until the next T20 World Cup in England.
India is a stable side, lead admirably by Harmanpreet Kaur. With stability comes players knowing their role within the team.
Despite the core group of players, of Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Gosh, Deepti Sharma and Renuka Singh Thakur performing year on year, they have also been able to blood new and exciting talent.
Since winning the ODI World Cup last year, Kaur seems a lot more relaxed and given the form that she recently showed in the Women’s Premier League, she is at the peak of her powers.
Once that bat back lift raises towards the heavens, you know she is only thinking one thing – six runs!
For the first time in the WPL an Indian player won the orange cap (most runs in the tournament), with Smriti Mandhana scoring 377 runs and the next player on the list, was Kaur with 342 runs.
In contrast, things will look a little different for Australia on Sunday with new captain Sophie Molineux taking the reins from Alyssa Healy after the outgoing skipper announced this would be her last series. But she will still captain the side in the ODIs and Test.
Molineux, who has been plagued by injuries has shown amazing resilience and leadership. taking the Melbourne Renegades from last place to winning the Women’s Big Bash League title last summer.
With no ICC title in the cabinet Molineux only has six months to turn things around until the next T20 World Cup in England.
The players from both sides all know each other well, playing together in the WPL but I can guarantee that there will be no love lost when both sides cross the boundary line.
Both teams play their cricket hard, and with so much on the line, neither one will give the other an inch.
It will be a treat for cricket fans after a ripping men’s Ashes series and also a chance to and say thank you to Healy who has served this game with such honour and distinction for the best part of two decades.
If it wasn’t for superstars Ellyse Perry, Healy and Meg Lanning, women’s cricket in this country and globally wouldn’t be where it is today.
So please come out and celebrate a true champion. If you aren’t able to attend the game, then make sure you tune into Channel Seven as we are the home of women’s international cricket and will be at all the grounds bringing you the action.
