Aussies roll on after early WWC drama

A coin toss dispute, run out controversy and a stunning performance with bat and ball. Australia's opening Women's World Cup match against the West Indies in Taunton had it all.

The emphatic eight-wicket win meant Australian skipper Meg Lanning was all smiles following the match, but it was a different story minutes after the toss at the County Ground, when it became apparent both captains believed their teams to be bowling.

The confusion came when Windies captain Stafanie Taylor told Lanning and match referee David Jukes she intended to bat first, but then informed television host Ian Bishop she was sending the Australians in.

In her own interview, Lanning said she had intended to bowl anyway. It was only as Lanning prepared to return to the Australian squad she realised the error and a heated discussion between captains and match referee ensued, before it was determined that Taylor's original decision must stick.

"We had the toss and Stafanie told me they were going to have a bat," Lanning explained afterwards.

"I just heard something different at the interview she was doing so I wanted to clarify what was happening.

"We got there in the end."

Image Id: E2ACB061EFAE4C0E8D125D6788CA7FDF Image Caption: Lanning and Taylor argue the toss with match referee David Jukes // cricket.com.au
Image Id: 0EB9E8E3114447558A7C7B460DB17024 Image Caption: Taylor seeks clarification after muddling her call at the coin toss // cricket.com.au

Despite the tense discussion that took place while Jukes determined who, indeed, was required to bat first, Lanning insisted she wasn't overly fussed whether Australia batted or bowled.

"I wasn't too sure what happened in between (the toss and the interview) but I just wanted to make sure it was clear what was happening," she said.

"We didn't mind what we did."

While Taylor had returned to where the remainder of the West Indies squad was warming up by the time the mix-up was discovered, batter Chedean Nation said it hadn't had an impact on the team.

"I thought both captains had some confusion there," Nation said.

"Whether we had lost or won, we would have had to do both bat and field."

Lanning could also have had cause for frustration in the 14th over of the West Indian innings, when a run out chance involving Chedean Nation was adjudged not out by umpire Kathy Cross.

Replays showed Nation was considerably short of making her ground. And while Monday's game was beamed into Australia and televised on Fox Sports, it was a live stream game with eight cameras, not a "TV game", meaning there were no square leg cameras, no DRS, and no Third Umpire.

It meant there was no avenue for referral upstairs – something that will be the case in 21 of the 31 World Cup matches, with the Third Umpire only be available for the 10 full broadcast games.

Fortunately, the missed chance didn't cost the Australians and Lanning said the fact that different conditions would apply in different matches was just part and parcel of the tournament.

"We weren't too sure (if it was out), to be honest," Lanning said. "It was hard to tell with the naked eye. It was close, we heard, but I haven't seen the replay.

"The DRS is new to all of us and it's only in the 10 broadcast games which is a little bit different, but that's just the way it is.

"It's the same for every team in the competition so we're not really worrying too much about that.

"We've just got to go out there and play and once the umpire makes the decision, that's it."

Women's World Cup 2017 Guide

Australia World Cup squad: Sarah Aley, Kristen Beams, Alex Blackwell (vc), Nicole Bolton, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning (c), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

Squads: Every World Cup squad named so far

Australia's World Cup schedule

View the full tournament schedule here

Australia fixtures

June 26: Australia bt West Indies by eight wickets

June 29: Sri Lanka v Australia, Bristol

July 2: Australia v New Zealand, Bristol

July 5: Pakistan v Australia, Leicester

July 9: England vAustralia, Bristol

July 12: Australia v India, Bristol

July 15: South Africa v Australia, Taunton

July 18: First semi-final, Bristol

July 20: Second semi-final, Derby

July 23: Final, Lord's