India introduced 20-year-old left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma to the ODI arena in the second match against Australia at Bellerive Oval on Friday. Having already featured in five T20Is, Sharma now adds the 50-over format to her international résumé.
After winning the toss, India chose to bat first. The multi-format contest stands level at 4-4, following Australia’s victory in the opening ODI at Allan Border Field in Brisbane. The visitors made a couple of changes to their XI, resting Shafali Verma and Renuka Singh Thakur. Amanjot Kaur returned to the side, while Sharma’s inclusion was aimed at strengthening the bowling unit.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who secured her fifth consecutive ODI toss win, confirmed she was fit to play after missing India’s entire fielding innings in Brisbane due to a left knee concern. “I’m fine now, my left knee…while playing I just got a niggle,” she said.
Australia made one alteration, bringing in Hobart-based Nicola Carey in place of Sophie Molineux, who has been ruled out of the series with a lower back injury. In a statement, Cricket Australia (CA) noted that Sophie will continue to be monitored ahead of next month’s tour of the West Indies.
The development presents a concern for Australia, with Sophie set to assume full-time captaincy duties across formats during the West Indies tour. Speaking at the toss, skipper Alyssa Healy said, “Getting first crack with the ball on a wicket with a little bit of live grass might help us out. We know if we get it right we can restrict them and it’s not an easy place to defend scores.”
Playing XIs
India: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Jemimah Rodrigues, Amanjot Kaur, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, N Sree Charani, Kranti Gaud, and Vaishnavi Sharma
Australia: Alyssa Healy (captain), Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Voll, Beth Mooney (wk), Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Nicola Carey, Alana King, Megan Schutt, and Darcie Brown
