There was a light breeze across Bellerive Oval this morning, and with it came another successful toss for Harmanpreet Kaur. The India captain, who has now called correctly in all three matches, chose to bowl, hoping the fresh surface would offer a little nip in the first hour – “We feel chasing is simpler here,” she said during the broadcast. Australia, already two-nil up, must bat first again yet still look the steadier outfit.
Key facts up front
• 19-year-old left-armer Lucy Hamilton comes in for an unwell Megan Schutt, making her first international appearance.
• Georgia Wareham replaces Darcie Brown, giving Alyssa Healy a second frontline spinner for what is also the final ODI of Healy’s own career.
• India bring back Renuka Singh and, for the first time on tour, hand starts to Harleen Deol and Sneh Rana. Amanjot Kaur, Kranti Gaud and Vaishnavi Sharma sit out.
• Shafali Verma remains on the sidelines, meaning India use a third different No. 3 in as many matches – Deol takes the role, Jemimah Rodrigues shifts to No. 5.
Why the changes?
Australia’s issue is largely health-related. Schutt woke up ill and, with Ellyse Perry and Kim Garth still nursing quad strains, Hamilton was the obvious next cab off the rank. The teenager only joined the squad last week but had already impressed in the nets. “Lucy’s got genuine bounce from that left-arm angle,” assistant coach Dan Marsh noted yesterday, “so we’re keen to see how she goes with the new ball.”
Wareham’s recall is tactical. The leg-spinner missed game two but returns on a ground that can reward slower bowling once the lights take hold. Brown, sharp but occasionally wayward, makes way.
India, meanwhile, are hunting balance. Renuka’s rest day is over; her powerplay swing is vital. Rana offers off-spin and lower-order grit, while Deol’s promotion is a nod to adaptability. Harmanpreet admitted the previous decision to bat first “didn’t come off”, hence the repeat of her preferred chase-first script.
A word on Garth
Kim Garth has flown back to Melbourne for treatment and has not bowled in almost a fortnight. She is expected to re-join the squad in Perth ahead of next week’s Test but remains touch-and-go.
Healy’s farewell
Quietly, today is Alyssa Healy’s last ODI. She will still captain the T20 side and the Test, yet closes a 14-year one-day chapter with 102 caps. “I won’t get sentimental until later,” she smiled, “but yes, it’s a nice way to finish – against quality opposition at home.”
Teams
India: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, Sree Charani, Sneh Rana, Renuka Singh.
Australia: Alyssa Healy (capt, wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Voll, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Nicola Carey, Alana King, Lucy Hamilton.
Odds and ends
• Rachel Trenaman has been drafted in simply to carry drinks and, if needed, field – a reminder of Australia’s thinning ranks.
• First ball is 10:05 am local; the forecast is cool but dry.
• An Australia win secures a clean sweep, but India, with their stronger bowling blend, will fancy restricting any total under 250.
One way or another, the Test in Perth already looms, yet there is unfinished business here. A debut, a farewell, and a toss that might finally tip India’s way – plenty of strands to follow before the series wraps up tonight.
