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We're well under a year away from the next edition of the ICC Women's ODI Cricket World Cup to be played in India. By virtue of being the hosts, India already have a direct entry secured although their performance in the ongoing ICC Women's Championship would have got them there anyway.
Australia, the reigning world champions and arguably the most feared team on the planet, currently lead the charts as far as the Championship is concerned. With the 'Q' against their name, they too do not have to worry about qualification for the marquee event.
This three-match series, hence, presents both teams the perfect opportunity to narrow down their options and finalize what could be the best combination ahead of the World Cup next year. These are two high quality units after all and from the point of view of confidence too, there's nothing quite like a win against the other to boost that cause.
The last time India toured Australia, they managed to snap the hosts' 26-match unbeaten run in ODIs three years ago. But having perennially fallen short at the big events, it is now their turn to show that they truly are coming together as a unit that can go the distance and win the whole thing altogether next year.
India enter this series having defeated New Zealand 2-1 in a one-day rubber on home soil just days after the T20 World Cup in October. Most of their players have since partaken in either the WBBL or the Senior Womens T20 Challenger Trophy back home and so, match practice isn't a worry as such with the exception of captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
A big selection call saw the selectors run out of patience and drop Shafali Verma for this tour. With Yastika Bhatia also ruled out with an injury she picked up during her WBBL stint, Priya Punia is expected to make a comeback and open the innings alongside Smriti Mandhana. Richa Ghosh, who missed the series against New Zealand owing to her Grade 12 examinations, will return to take the gloves while Uma Chetry is in the side as Bhatia's replacement.
Where Ghosh bats though is a question of intrigue. Considering she donned the number 3 role in the ODIs against Australia at the start of the year at home, there's a chance that Amol Mazumdar could revive that project again. Harmanpreet is a lock at number 4 with Jemimah Rodrigues and the impressive Tejal Hasabnis expected to slot in right after. Deepti Sharma, as always, will don the lead all-rounder's role.
Despite Shafali's absence, the batting lineup wears a familiar look to it. Having enjoyed a good run in ODIs this year, India will want to push their limits as far as posting a sizeable total is concerned so as to challenge the Australian batting might.
Pooja Vastrakar is a notable absentee while Shreyanka Patil misses out owing to injury. But with Priya Mishra impressing at the first time of asking, she could be a starter as the wicket-taking wrist-spinner. Three pacers are likely in these conditions and it could be a shootout between Saima Thakor and the returning Titas Sadhu with Arundhati Reddy and Renuka Singh Thakur expected to start.
Australia have had injury concerns to deal with themselves - pacer Tayla Vlaeminck is out of the summer having dislocated her shoulder at the T20 World Cup while skipper Alyssa Healy is also unavailable for this series with a knee injury. Tahlia McGrath will deputize for her and having hit some decent form during the WBBL, will be keen for some consistency having endured a tough year with the bat otherwise. The uncapped Georgia Voll has been called up and is set for a debut too at the top of the order alongside Phoebe Litchfield, with Beth Mooney taking the gloves and batting in the middle-order.
The makeup of Australia's lineup is very similar to the one that last played an ODI in Bangladesh earlier in March. It's been a while since they played this format together with T20s taking precedence but you'd expect McGrath, Mooney, Ellyse Perry and Ash Gardner to hit the ground running with all that experience to fall back upon.
There could be a shootout between Alana King and Georgia Wareham for the wrist-spinning all-rounder's spot and the latter could just win the race for the moment. Another selection choice then comes down to whether Australia pick a third spinning option in Sophie Molineux or go for the pace of Kim Garth instead. With Perry and Annabel Sutherland in the side though to go with Megan Schutt and Darcie Brown, you'd think that they have enough pacers anyway and Molineux left-arm spin could add a point of difference.
A team that bats deep and has as many as seven genuine bowling options at their disposal. Clearly, Australia are the favorites as they seek to extend their dominance in this format - on home turf no less. But India has been a bit of a bogey team at times even if the Women in Blue haven't been able to do the needful consistently enough.
Mind you, this is also Australia's first assignment since their semifinal exit at the T20 World Cup. As a unit, they will still be hurting somewhere from that result, yet equally determined to turn things around in a trice and make a statement. A series win for India would be a statement in itself as they gear up for their final assignment of the calendar year.
Oh is this set up really well or what!
Australia Probable XI: Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Voll, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney (wk), Tahlia McGrath (c), Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown
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Allan Border Field, Brisbane
