India Women bank on spin trap against Australia to register maiden Test win

India has never beaten Australia in any of its 10 Tests spanning over 46 years - home or away - and the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side would know that this could be the best opportunity to achieve a first win.

Harmanpreet Kaur of India during a practice session ahead of the Australia vs India Test match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. | Photo Credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI/The Hindu

After dismantling England, India Women will be eager to tick another bold point in its bucket list, a maiden win in the traditional format against Australia, ahead of the one-off Test here from Thursday.

India has never beaten Australia in any of its 10 Tests spanning over 46 years -- home or away -- as the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side would know that there could be no better opportunity to achieve that considering it is playing on a pitch that is expected to favour the spinners.

The Indian bowlers, especially offie Deepti Sharma, showed remarkable ruthlessness against England while scoring a mammoth 347-run win at the DY Patil Stadium last week, the biggest in terms of runs in women’s Test history, and they would like to reproduce that streak against the Aussies too.

But India’s bowling has more sharp edges to it than Deepti.

Renuka Singh Thakur is building a reputation of making early inroads with the new ball since her return from injury and fellow-pacer Pooja Vastrakar also warmed-up with a three-wicket burst against England.

India’s batting also looks to be in safe hands with Harmanpreet Kaur (49 and 44 not out), Jemimah Rodrigues (68) and Yastika Bhatia (66) making good impact against England.

However, India would want opener Smriti Mandhana to join the party with a big knock here at the Wankhede Stadium against the Aussies.

But India could be without left-handed Shubha Satheesh, who suffered a dislocation and hairline fracture after a scintillating debut fifty against England.

Priya Punia has joined the Indian squad as a cover but Harleen Deol, who had an extended nets on Tuesday, could get the nod.

Back to playing Test cricket in India after a gap of almost 40 years, Australia has indeed ventured in to the unknown and the task looks uphill for the newly-appointed skipper Alyssa Healy and her side.

Jemimah Rodrigues of India and Smriti Mandhana of India during the practice session ahead of Australia vs India (Women) Test match at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. | Photo Credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI/ The Hindu

Incidentally, it was here at the Wankhede that India and Australia had played their last women’s Test on these shores in February 1984.

The last Test between India and Australia was played two years ago at Carrara, in which Smriti Mandhana’s first-innings 127 helped the Women in Blue secure a draw.

Healy has taken the mantle of Australian leadership from Meg Lanning and playing a Test against India in its backyard would be a massive test at the beginning of her tenure.

But Australia’s think-tank has a problem of plenty given the quality of all-rounders in its side which includes the experienced Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath.

Australia will look to lean on its white-ball experience in India which also includes stints in the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) earlier this year for some of them.

But playing red-ball cricket on slow turners can be too hot a job to handle for any visiting side.

THE SQUADS

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Shubha Satheesh, Harleen Deol, Saika Ishaque, Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu, Meghna Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Pooja Vastrakar.

Australia: Darcie Brown, Lauren Cheatle, Heather Graham, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Alyssa Healy (C & WK), Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney (wk), Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham.

Match starts at 9:30am IST.