Australia look far too strong for injury-laden West Indies

Match Preview: 2nd ODI— West Indies v Australia

Date: 8 September 2019

Venue: Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound

Australia continued their dominant form in the ICC Women's ODI championship thrashing West Indies by 178 runs in the first of three ODIs at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua on Thursday (September 5).

It was the trio of Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry who led the way for Australia with scintillating performances. Healy and Lanning scored twin hundreds and shared a double-hundred partnership for the second wicket to lay the base for Australia's total of 308, while Perry ripped through the hosts' top order with the new ball. It was a clinical performance from the no.1 ranked side in the world.

Despite the thrashing they handed out in the first match, Australia will go in to the second ODI at the Sir Vivan Richards Stadium in North South on Sunday (September 8), with an intent to improve on their performance. While the batters did their job efficiently, the bowlers were slightly wayward. In West Indies' total of 130, Australia conceded as many as 31 extras - 26 of them wides. These are numbers they will certainly be keen to reduce.

For West Indies, their problems seem to be mounting by the day. Coming in to the series, they were struck by several injuries - Deandra Dottin, Shakera Selman, Shemaine Campbelle all ruled out with niggles - and during the first ODI, Kycia Knight joined the list. As if that were not enough, in a late development, Hayley Matthews has been withdrawn from the squad in the wake of being charged of breaching Cricket West Indies’ code of conduct during an incident on Wednesday (September 4) in Antigua. Sheneta Grimmond has been named as her replacement.

In the first ODI, Stafanie Taylor was the only batter who stood up to be counted, gutsing it out to score an unbeaten 70, while her teammates crumbled around her. She received some support from Chinelle Henry, but it was not nearly enough to help the hosts even challenge Australia.

With the ball, after an impressive first few overs, they had little to cheer. Although Shamilia Connell was their most successful bowler, it was Afy Fletcher, the leg-spinner, who caused Australia the most problems. She got the ball to fizz off the surface, generating turn and beating the outside edge of Healy and Lanning on several occasions.

The rest of the unit, however, were disappointing to say the least. Shabika Gajnabi, the debutante right-arm seamer, started off steadily, but was unable to really trouble the batters. Anisa Mohammed in her come back game was also ineffective. She fed both Lanning and Healy a series of floaty full deliveries that were duly dispatched to the mid-wicket fence.

Taylor will be hoping her team can really lift their game and at least try to give the visitors a tough time. While it is hard to see West Indies actually winning a game - considering all the setbacks they have suffered - they could push Australia if they find their fight.

A win on Sunday will see Australia pass England on the championship points table - something they will be more than eager to do.

 

Key Players:

Ellyse Perry:

Following an incredible Ashes series, Ellyse Perry put in another spectacular allround performance in the opening match of the series. First she helped Australia cross the 300-run mark with an unbeaten 31-ball 33, and then she dismantled West Indies' top order with a brilliant spell of swing bowling. The right-arm seamer, hit her straps immediately in the second innings - pitching the ball up, getting it it to swing late and catching the batters on the crease. She attacked the stumps consistently, forcing them to play at almost every delivery.

The allrounder is certainly making the most of her incredible form - cashing in at every opportunity she gets.

Afy Fletcher:

Afy Fletcher was by far West Indies' most consistent bowler in the first ODI. She bowled in good areas and kept the batters honest through out. The leg-spinner who certainly troubled both Lanning and Healy was unlucky not to get a couple more wickets. She almost had Healy caught behind - the 'keeper, Reniece Boyce, fluffed a simple chance - and had Lanning feeling for deliveries outside off stump.

Come Sunday, she will be looking to continue her good form, and hope against hope that she can finish with a few more wickets to her name.

 

Conditions:

The action shifts to Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound. Australia have fond memories of this ground as they won their fourth T20 World Cup title at this venue late last year.

It's a day game and chasing has often been the preferred option at this particular ground. However, considering how the pitch at Coolidge Cricket Ground behaved, one can expect that the team winning the toss will bat first, allow the heat to bake the surface, and watch the spinners come to the fore in the second innings.

 

Squads:

West Indies: Stafanie Taylor (c), Reniece Boyce, Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry, Shamilia Connell, Stacy Ann King, Natasha McLean, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Anisa Mohammed, Karishma Ramharack, Shabika Gajnabi, Sheneta Grimmond.

Australia: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Erin Burns, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Heather Graham, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham.