Sthalekar tips Aussie selection surprise

Dual Women's World Cup winner Lisa Sthalekar says Australia's coaches could wield the axe and spring a surprising selection ahead of their semi-final clash with India in Derby.

Captain Meg Lanning is fighting time to be fit for the knockout match, continuing to struggle with a shoulder injury that has dogged her campaign, with Rachael Haynes making way each time she returns to the side.

But Sthalekar believes selectors could stick with Haynes and omit batting allrounder Elyse Villani who has had mixed results during the tournament should Lanning be declared fit.

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"The only change I could potentially see, and this is me thinking left-field a little bit, Rachael Haynes showed that she is capable with the ball, she's great in the field, (and) Elyse Villani hasn't necessarily produced the same (output) as her exciting start to the World Cup," Sthalekar told The Unplayable Podcast.

"They've been trying to use her from a bowling perspective, (but) in the last few games the ball hasn't been coming out well, so if anything they may look to (stick with Haynes) and that gives them an option who's been used a little more frequently in the domestic circuit."

Lanning was restricted to a light session in Derby, training away from the group and hitting some throw-downs before an early exit from the track, leaving the door ajar on whether she will face India.

Villani has played each of the seven group stage matches – scoring 73 runs from four attempts which including a pair of first-ball dismissals – with both Lanning and Haynes throwing her the ball in lieu of a third seamer.

She has shown glimpses of brilliance, highlighted by her 59 against Pakistan which came off just 34 balls, the second-fastest World Cup half-century in history, while her 3-42 against ladder-leaders England very nearly got Australia home in their only defeat.

Haynes claimed two wickets against South Africa after not having bowled in the training camps in the lead-up or during Australia's sessions in the United Kingdom.

Former Sydney Sixers allrounder-turned-commentator Sthalekar also expects Australia's middle-order to make big contributions against India.

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"We haven't seen a lot of our middle order, we've seen sparks here and there, but I think they're going to be the key to the Australians winning the semi-final and final," she added.

"The middle order of Alex Blackwell, Alyssa Healy and Ashleigh Gardner, it'll be enjoyable if they get in to see the firepower they possess."

Sthalekar also downplayed the potential threat of Indian run-machine Mithali Raj, suggesting several of her teammates are more likely to influence matches.

"Obviously Mithali is the captain, they rely so heavily on her, she's the leading run scorer in women's' ODI cricket, but I feel the Australians will look at her and go 'she's not necessarily going to damage us – she might go at a run a ball'," she explained.

"Players that could potentially damage us are Smriti Mandhana and she's already done that (in Hobart) scoring a century.

"We've seen what Harmanpreet Kaur can do in the WBBL, Veda Krishnamurthy against New Zealand gave them the firepower and got them to a really defendable total, and then Punam Raut, she scored a hundred against the Australians last time.

"So if those players fire, they'll post a good score."

While praising India's efforts in the World Cup campaign so far, Sthalekar was confident the higher-ranked side would prevail and head to Lord's for the final.

"The Australians will win," she said. "They've got the depth, in all aspects, their fielding is far better than the Indians, we've seen that over the course of the World Cup, and they've been there and done that; they're used to playing these crucial matches and getting through it.

"I think Australia will get up but they better beware because the Indians have their backs up."