Key occasions
thirty third over: Australia 118-4, (Healy 24, Sutherland 0) Bright begin for Healy within the afternoon session, she performs a stunning late dab off Vastrakar and will get it large of level and within the hole for 4 runs.
15 of the 21 periods performed in women’s Test cricket this 12 months have featured 100+ runs. That is a revolutionary tempo of scoring in contrast with a lot of the historical past of the format.#INDvAUS
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) December 21, 2023
thirty second over: Australia 114-4, (Healy 20, Sutherland 0) Rana replaces Renuka who will get simply the only over spell submit lunch. Healy is watchful, shuffling again and flicking to leg for the one run of the over.
thirty first over: Australia 113-4, (Healy 19, Sutherland 0) Vastrakar – vanquisher of Perry and Mooney within the morning session – is over the wicket with two slips and a gully. She serves up a full bunger to Healy who clips it away for 4 with ease. A nudge to leg brings a single.
thirtieth over: Australia 108-4, (Healy 14, Sutherland 0) Here come the gamers for the afternoon session. Sun beating down in Mumbai. Sky inkier than a squid with a weak point for calligraphy right here in London.
Healy punches Renuka Singh via cowl for 4 within the first over again, Annabel Sutherland has joined her skipper within the center.
Lunch – Australia 103-4
India take the morning spoils then with that dramatic prising of Mooney for a affected person 40 on the stroke of the interval. Harmanpreet leads her aspect off in Mumbai with a beaming smile. Can her reverse quantity Alyssa Healy do the requisite rebuild job with the bat within the afternoon session? Australia have Annabel Sutherland, Ash Gardner and Jess Jonassen to come back, between them they’ll must knuckle down and get their aspect as much as a aggressive complete (at the least 250) on this first innings, particularly after profitable the toss and getting first use of an honest Wankhede deck.
Time for some early morning sustenance right here in London, I’ll be again quickly for the afternoon session. Do drop me a line if you’re tuning in, I’ll delve into the OBO mailbag with my ‘Full Scandi’ (muesli).
twenty ninth over: Australia 103-4, (Healy 9)
WICKET! Beth Mooney c Rana b Vastrakar 40 (Australia 103-4)
Vastrakar removes Mooney with the ultimate ball earlier than lunch! What a second on this first session – a brief ball is speared in and rears up at Mooney who will get a meaty glove on it that loops to Rana within the slips for a easy catch.
twenty eighth over: Australia 100-3, (Mooney 38, Healy 8) Hundred up for Australia with a Healy drive into the covers. I’d say the spoils have been shared this morning if there are not any extra wickets within the couple of minutes we’ve obtained til the lunch break.
twenty seventh over: Australia 99-3, (Mooney 38, Healy 7) That’ll do! Healy will get off the mark with a SIX lofted down the bottom and over the rope at mid on. After going through a dozen dots the Aussie skipper decides sufficient is sufficient. A poke to level brings her a single and she or he’ll maintain strike.
twenty sixth over: Australia 92-3, (Mooney 38, Healy 0) A maiden from Rana to Mooney who breathes deeply between every supply, bringing the guts charge again down after that shut run factor within the earlier over.
twenty fifth over: Australia 92-3, (Mooney 38, Healy 0) Drama! Beth Mooney is given out on the sphere LBW to Deepti, the ball hitting her on the toe… it seems very adjoining in actual time however the batter requires a assessment. NOT OUT! DRS has the ball sliding simply previous leg stump and Mooney survives! That’s an enormous second, Mooney has a monitor document of batting lengthy, she’s essential to Aussie hopes of creating an honest first innings complete. India can not imagine that ball is lacking, arms on head on the huddle as the decision got here again from the large display screen.
twenty fourth over: Australia 89-3, (Mooney 39, Healy 0) Dot adopted dot adopted dot adopted dot… Australia becalmed after the lack of McGrath.
twenty third over: Australia 88-3, (Mooney 38, Healy 0) Deepti Sharma into the assault. A slip and brief leg in place to greet Healy after Mooney nudges a single off the primary ball. Good stress constructed from Deepti, who sends down 5 dots to maintain Healy sincere.
WICKET! Tahlia McGrath c Gayakwad b Rana 50 (Australia 87-3)
Gone now although! Out of nowhere too after wanting so comfy for her total keep on the crease, McGrath mis-times a flick to midwicket and plinks the ball within the air for a leaping Gayakwad to seize the catch.
New skipper Alyssa Healy strides out to the center to affix Mooney. Big twenty minutes earlier than lunch incoming.
twenty second over: Australia 87-3, (Mooney 37, Healy 0)
twenty first over: Australia 86-2, (Mooney 37, McGrath 50) That’s fifty for Tahlia McGrath, properly batted! She got here in with Australia teetering at 7-2 and performed some superb strokes, hitting eight boundaries very quickly in any respect. She brings up the half ton with a push into the covers for a single.
twentieth over: Australia 80-2, (Mooney 28, McGrath 48) Rana whirls away, simply a few singles to Australia.
nineteenth over: Australia 78-2, (Mooney 27, McGrath 47) Shot! Mooney rocks again to a brief ball from Gayakwad and instances properly via cowl for 4 to select up her second boundary. Still pitch black right here in London, because the shortest day of the 12 months creaks into life. I can hear a fox sniffing away on the bins exterior my window. Boggis, Bunce and Bins.
18th over: Australia 73-2, (Mooney 22, McGrath 47) Things have calmed down a contact on the Wankhede after that dramatic begin an hour or so in the past. Three singles collected off the spin of Rana.
seventeenth over: Australia 70-2, (Mooney 20, McGrath 46) Gayakwad is getting the ball to fizz on off the floor. Mooney is watchful, she’s confronted 56 balls for her twenty runs while McGrath has whizzed to 46 off 44 on the different finish.
sixteenth over: Australia 68-2, (Mooney 19, McGrath 45) A probing over from Rana sees a pointy probability put down by Deepti Sharma at slip after the ball took the sting of McGrath’s and flicked Ghosh’s gloves on the way in which to her. Sharma was caught a bit flat footed there, that’s the second probability she’s grassed this morning.
fifteenth over: Australia 66-2, (Mooney 18, McGrath 44) Gayakwad continues, giving the ball loads of flight from across the wicket. She offers one a bit an excessive amount of air and McGrath wants no additional invitation to get on the entrance foot and drive away for 4.
14th over: Australia 62-2, (Mooney 18, McGrath 40) A few singles off Rana within the first over again after refreshments. These two have chalked up a fifty partnership at an honest lick.
thirteenth over: Australia 60-2, (Mooney 17, McGrath 39) Spin from each ends now, a take a look at of method for the batters within the center and this bleary eyed OBO scribe because the overs are likely to rattle by at warp pace. Rajeshwari Gayakwad into the assault with a few slips and a foolish level in place. McGrath is watchful for 4 balls earlier than pouncing on a shorter one and flaying via level for a boundary. Time for a drink.
twelfth over: Australia 56-2, (Mooney 17, McGrath 35) Eeeesht. Rana begins with a tidy maiden, together with a stifled attraction to a ahead prod from Mooney that regarded to hit pad first… India shrug it off but when that they had reviewed then Mooney would have been despatched packing! The ball was hitting center and undoubtedly struck pad first. A let off for Australia.
eleventh over: Australia 56-2, (Mooney 17, McGrath 35) Beth Mooney accumulates, angling into the off aspect for a pair and driving via cowl to select up an additional three runs. We’re going to see spin for the primary time within the Test, Sneh Rana is approaching to interchange Pooja Vastrakar who pocketed Perry emphatically in her first over.
tenth over: Australia 50-2, (Mooney 12, McGrath 34) Australia rattling alongside at 5 an over regardless of the early losses of Litchfield and Perry. Shot of the morning from McGrath! An imperious drive on bended knee that skims throughout the baize to the boundary. Fifty up for the guests.
ninth over: Australia 45-2, (Mooney 12, McGrath 29) The runs proceed to come back for Australia who’re rebuilding properly in Mumbai after that calamitous begin. McGrath punches a size ball to the off aspect fence and Mooney will get in on the act with a drive via cowl. This isn’t the docile graveryard shift I used to be anticipating ease me into the day, no complaints although!
@Jimbo_Cricket having fun with your protection of the Aus-Ind women’s take a look at – right here’s hoping it goes for 4 days, proper all the way down to the wire, and Australia wins it on the final minute with an awesome Ellyse Perry batting efficiency
— john maynard keynes gaming (@theloneamigo) December 21, 2023
I believe this Mr Keynes might be an Aussie… be good although wouldn’t it?
eighth over: Australia 36-2, (Mooney 8, McGrath 24) Yikes. Vastrakar stitches collectively a maiden and beats the bat of Beth Mooney 3 times within the over.
seventh over: Australia 36-2, (Mooney 8, McGrath 24) DROP! McGrath slashes at a ball that moved throughout her and the sharp probability is shelled by Deepti Sharma within the cordon. McGrath shrugs it off by gliding the following ball down via level for a boundary. It’s been an thrilling begin eh!
Is there anybody on the market? Drop me a line why dontcha? Email me right here or give me a nudge @Jimbo_Cricket.
sixth over: Australia 27-2, (Mooney 7, McGrath 16) Vastrakar exams out the center of the pitch and McGrath stands tall to punch via the off aspect for an additional 4, she seems in fantastic fettle.
Phoebe Litchfield is the primary women’s opening batter to be dismissed via run-out for zero in W-Tests since 1961.
Mary Taylor (ENG-W) in 1937 vs AUS-W
Joyce Powell (NZ-W) in 1957 vs ENG-W
Kit Raymond (AUS-W) in 1961 vs NZ-W#INDvAUS— Cricket.com (@weRcricket) December 21, 2023
Gah!
fifth over: Australia 19-2, (Mooney 6, McGrath 9) India go for a assessment for an LBW in opposition to Beth Mooney who’s strolling throughout her stumps however lacking a clip into the leg aspect. NOT OUT. The umpire was unmoved regardless of DRS exhibiting the the ball was clipping the leg stump. The determination stands however India maintain maintain of their assessment.
4th over: Australia 17-2, (Mooney 4, McGrath 9) Vastrakar continues with a packed slip cordon. Shot! McGrath crunches a drive via the covers for 4 to launch a hiss of stress. And once more! A size ball is flayed via the covers with quick arms and aplomb. The outfield seems fast and the ball is coming onto the bat properly, there may be additionally some early motion although, as Perry came upon to her value.
Ellyse Perry has now been dismissed bowled in every of her final 2 Test innings
Before that, she was solely bowled as soon as in her total Test profession#INDvAUS
— Mohit Shah (@mohit_shah17) December 21, 2023
third over: Australia 9-2, (Mooney 4, McGrath 1) And breathe. The digicam pans to Alyssa Healy within the dugout sporting a nervous smile. A single every to Mooney and McGrath off Renuka.
WICKET! Ellyse Perry b Vastrakar 4 (Australia 7-2)
STREWTH! Perry’s timbers are splattered by a vicious in-ducker from Vastrakar! India are off to a flier! That was a superb ball to get early within the innings, a barely tentative ahead defence from Australia’s lynchpin and the ball zipped via the hole between bat and pad. Tahlia McGrath is the brand new batter, I haven’t managed a slurp of espresso but – can everybody cease getting out!
2nd over: Australia 7-2, Mooney 3, McGrath 0)
1st over: Australia 2-1, (Mooney 2, Perry 0) What a begin for India! They are cock-a-hoop in Mumbai. Ellyse Perry is the brand new batter as Beth Mooney stares as much as the skies, she will be able to’t imagine what she’s finished there, all that point within the match and a break up second of indecision over a non-existent single has value her accomplice massive time. Litchfield trudges off crestfallen.
WICKET! Phoebe Litchfield is run out within the first over! (Australia 2-1)
Gone for a diamond duck with out going through a ball! Mooney poked into the off aspect and stuttered mid-pitch, I believe she’s barbecued her accomplice there!
Here we go, Phoebe Litchfield and Beth Mooney take guard. Renuka Singh has the brand new crimson ball in her mitts – PLAY!
My television has simply cranked into life with live photos from Mumbai. It seems sunny and sizzling on the Wankhede. It’s darkish and twinkly right here in south London, I’m on the couch along with the Christmas tree and all is quiet, the distant trills of my toddler snore-breathing waft down the hallway. It’s 4am – let’s hope she stays within the land of nod for this primary session.
The gamers are rising onto the pitch for the anthems. The pitch is butterscotch in color and lined in loopy paving cracks that ought to open up and be conducive to show because the match progresses. It must be a belter to bat on first up, Australia shall be seeking to make an honest complete and put some stress on India. Time to make a fast pre-dawn espresso, again in a tickle of Kenco for the beginning of the motion!
Teams: A debutant apiece!
Australia: Beth Mooney, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Alyssa Healy (c, wk), Annabel Sutherland, Ash Gardner, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Kim Garth, Lauren Cheatle
India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh
Pace bowler Darcie Brown is rested for the guests as Left-arm fast Lauren Cheatle is chosen to make her Test debut.
Wicketkeeper/batter Richa Ghosh can also be a Test debutant for India.
Australia win the toss and can bat first!
Alyssa Healy calls the coin accurately in her first official outing as Captain and she or he decides to have first use of the Wankhede pitch.
Preamble
James Wallace
Hello and welcome to a slice of recent cricketing historical past. Despite the entire progress throughout the women’s sport over the previous few years, Test matches are nonetheless largely rarer than hen’s dentures. This sport on the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai is a living proof – it has been nigh on forty years since India hosted Australia in a women’s Test match on dwelling soil, a time lengthy earlier than any of the gamers within the present squads have been born.
That 4 Test sequence method again in 1984 (nineteeneightyfourrrr) led to a stalemate and the 2 nations final duked it out within the longest format in Carrara in 2021, a day/evening Test with a pink ball that additionally led to a draw.
And but, regardless of what I’ve simply typed, Harmanpreet’s India face the problem of taking part in the mighty Australia underneath a brand new chief -Meg Lanning has handed the gilded reins to Alyssa Healy – simply 4 days after finishing a Test match on dwelling soil in opposition to England.
The Test in opposition to England was a thumping victory for the house aspect however this contest guarantees to be an entire lot tighter. Healy is seeking to begin a brand new period of dominance throughout codecs for the inexperienced and gold and gave a perky press convention a day out from the beginning of the match that confirmed no indicators of nerves while paying homage to her predecessor:
They are unbelievably big footwear to fill in changing Meg Lanning,” Healy mentioned yesterday. “The success she had as not only a player but as a leader of the Australian cricket team is fairly unmatched right around the men’s and women’s game. Big shoes to fill on my part but one that’s really exciting to me. Bring it on, India is a big challenge!”
India have the benefit of dwelling situations however Australia are not any slouches within the spin division with the likes of Ash Gardner, Jess Jonassen and Alana King at their disposal. The match provides up an intriguing battle between two gun sides tussling for a uncommon (and standalone) crimson ball gong forward of the six white ball matches that make up the multi-format side of the tour to come back over the approaching weeks.
I’m right here with you for the primary half of the day earlier than Tanya swoops in to information you dwelling later. Play will get underway at 9.30am native time which is an eyebag inducing 4am (!) right here in London. I’ll be again shortly, doubtless jacked up on caffeine, to convey you information of the groups and the toss.
Discussion about this post