Australia's plan to combat India spin

Two out of every three Australian wickets to fall during the World Cup have succumbed to spin.

On the traditionally seam-friendly wickets of England, spinners have reigned supreme, holding five of the top six spots on the leading wicket-takers list.

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But Australia vice-captain Alex Blackwell says her side have gone back to basics to combat and nullify the influence of spin bowlers.

"We really looked at introducing the sweep shot," Blackwell said.

"Some of us like to play that shot and do it naturally whereas others it's something to develop and work on.

"It's become common place now, that most of our girls can play vertical bat shots but also when it's a low, slow wicket and the spinners aren't giving you much to get down to, being able to adapt.

"I think we all have those tools in the kit bag now."

 

India head into the semi-final clash with plenty of spin options, with Ekta Bisht and Rajeshwari Gayakwad having taken five-wicket-hauls on the Derby ground. Captain Mithali Raj has Deepti Sharma and Poonam Yadav at her disposal as well.

"The Indian bowling attack is dangerous if you allow them to bowl to you. They've got some excellent spinners, spinners who don't necessarily give you a lot of flight to get down and hit the ball where you want to hit it," Blackwell said.

"Players have looked to react to the ball that's been delivered by these spinners and look to play off both front and back foot and perhaps also look to use different guards and put the spinners off their line.

"Everyone has a different approach as to how they play and I think that's one of the strengths of the line-up we have."

Australia's spin trio of Kristen Beams (11 wickets), Jess Jonassen (nine) and Ashleigh Gardner (seven) have led the attack and will likely play a significant role on the spin-conducive County Ground.

"The fact that we beat (India) in the round-robin games is really promising," Blackwell said.

"Everyone has chipped in throughout, so I think that's a good thing about our team: we haven't really relied on one or two players, it has been very much shared around."

Gayakwad was left out of her side's first six matches, but delivered a match-winning spell of 5-15 to knock New Zealand out of the competition.

The best return of her 28-match ODI career came after she replaced the more experienced Ekta Bisht in the playing XI for the virtual quarter-final.

Gayakward looms as a weapon against Australia, having played three previous matches against her semi-final opponents and her five scalps include the prized wickets of Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry.

Raj didn't confirm whether Gayakwad would keep her spot against Australia over the experienced-Bisht, but the semi-final will be played on the same wicket as the match against New Zealand.

"(Selection) all depends on the strip that we are getting and what plans we have for them," Raj said.

"(It's) depending on the strategies we plan, then we will decide the combination."

The winner of the semi-final between Australia and India will head to Lord's to take on England in the final on Sunday.