Australian women’s team has been undefeated in Tests since 2014, but they will be facing their toughest challenge yet, facing India in Indian conditions. The two sides are slated to play a one-off Test in Mumbai beginning on Thursday, 21 December.
Following England's 347-run loss to India last week, Australia understands the importance of countering India's spinners as they seek their first women's Test triumph on Indian soil. The only four Tests Australia women have played in India have ended in draws.
They have trained at the Wankhede Stadium since arriving in India and had a 50-over practice match on Sunday but are still facing distinct unknowns about what will be provided for the Test.
"It's a tough one to prepare for. The girls are coming off the back of a WBBL, and looks like we are going to get some traditional subcontinent conditions but it's also really exciting. Think everyone is just embracing the challenge. We are just doing whatever we can to prepare.
Think it will just be a matter of how quickly that pitch deteriorates. It's a matter of adapting on the run and not getting too far ahead of ourselves, thinking that it will do something. We are trying not to read too much into it, but we certainly know what way it could go but it will be interesting how much it does change across the four days,” Shelley Nitschke, Australia's coach was quoted as saying by ICC.
In Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Jess Jonassen, and Alana King, Australia has a potential four-pronged spin attack to counter India and will be hoping that the four have a good outing with the red ball.
In this case, there might be room for only one pacer out of Darcie Brown, Lauren Cheatle, and Kim Garth.
"We've certainly got a lot of options and several allrounders. We aren't really clear on where that will land at the moment, we have some decisions to make,” she said.
Alyssa Healy is set to lead the side after recovering from a finger injury caused by a dog bite. She will lead the Test team "unless there's some significant change" according to the coach.
The Test is set to begin on 21 December in Mumbai and will be followed by three ODIs and as many T20Is.
(ICC inputs)
