Former Australian captain Alyssa Healy has called on the team to keep the same XI that got them to the T20 World Cup final, believing the side that takes the “handbrake” off first will lose on Sunday at Lord’s.
New skipper Sophie Molineux hinted “unpredictability” could be part of their plans for England ahead of the final, as Australia decide what to do with their team on game day.
A final call on Ellyse Perry’s fitness will be made on Sunday after she retired hurt with quad awareness in the semi-final against the West Indies. The all-rounder trained well on Saturday, with all signs pointing to her being available for the final.
Molineux also confirmed that Alana King was “certainly in the frame” for the match, given her stranglehold over England in recent years.
The leg-spinner didn’t play in Australia’s semi-final win, but took 23 wickets across seven matches in last year’s Ashes series. Her inclusion would likely mean a tough call on either youngster Lucy Hamilton or all-rounder Nicola Carey.
But Healy felt Australia should stick with Hamilton because her left-arm pace is still unique in world cricket and would be well suited to playing at Lord’s.
“From a selection piece, Lucy Hamilton brings a real point of difference to that side,” Healy said. “Playing at Lord’s, as well with the slope, I think she could be a really handy asset coming in from one end.
“We’ve got spin galore elsewhere. So, I dare say that I would lean that way, but I think from a selection piece, you can’t really go wrong. Leg spin against England in the final has worked. I think our batters just need to make sure they get their job done, and the bowlers will be fine.”
Molineux stated that a decision on a final XI would be left until Sunday, giving every chance for Perry to be at full fitness.
However, the Australians haven’t shied away from the fact that they could pick Perry as a specialist batter given her extraordinary form this tournament.
“It would be great if she could bowl for us, but at the same time, if we’re bowling, we think we’ve got a bit of cover there,” Molineux said.
“Her T20 World Cup so far with the bat has been incredible, really. She’s won a couple of games for us there, so I think her with the bat, and if she’s not bowling, is still a massive positive for us.
“We’ll definitely look at (Alana). I think unpredictability is a big part of T20 cricket, but at the same time, you’ve got to back what we’ve got, and it’s been eight or nine bowlers in the 11 at the moment. We’ll have a look tomorrow and make sure we make the right call on that front.”
Australia’s dominance this tournament has seen them go into the match at Lord’s as favourites, with their strong record against England, who they haven’t lost to in any format in nearly three years, potentially giving them a psychological edge.
But for Healy, it’s the “freedom” with which Australia has played that has impressed her most. And while there will be expectation on the Aussies to add another World Cup to their cabinet, she senses this team won’t feel the pressure and will continue their brave cricket all the way to victory.
“I read that we’ve broken the curse, and I’m like, we’ve made two semi-finals, we’ve done really well,” Healy said. “I think that just shows the expectations, not just us, but everybody places on our team.
“I still think the Aussie team is the benchmark of the women’s game. And I guess there’s a point to prove in that regard. But what I’m loving most about it is that they look like they’re enjoying themselves.
“They’re playing with that freedom that I think we’ve been craving in the T20 format for a long period of time. We’ve sort of had the handbrake on a little bit, but I think we’ve taken the handbrake off, we’re having fun, we’re highly skilled at what we do, and we’re taking the game on. I think we’re really dangerous when we do that.
“It’ll be the first team to put the handbrake on a little bit that’s going to lose. So they’ve just got to keep backing what they’re doing, take the game on and risk it, and I think they’ll come out on top.”
Originally published as Healy warns Australia: Team that puts ‘handbrake on’ will lose T20 final