Quantcast

Southern Stars set for trial by spin

Some of the world's leading spinners to go head-to-head in 20-over component of the Women's Ashes

Southern Stars captain Meg Lanning expects her side to face an examination by spin this week from a desperate England, who must sweep the three-match T20 series to hold onto the Women’s Ashes.

Australia hold an imposing 8-2 lead in the multi-format series after a 2-1 win in the three-game ODI component and a convincing 161-run victory in the one-off Test.

They can clinch the series by winning just one of the T20 games, and will aim to seal it in game one in Chelmsford on Thursday morning (AEST).

Women's Ashes T20s: All you need to know

The only way England can retain the Ashes is by winning all three T20 matches, which would pull them level at 8-8 and see them keep the coveted trophy by virtue of being the holders.

England have made two changes to their squad for the T20 series, calling up spinners Danielle Wyatt and Danielle Hazell, with the latter the world No.1 ranked women's T20 bowler.

While wary of the home side's spin threat, Lanning says the Australians will field a strong spin-bowling attack of their own.

Australia's two highest-ranked T20 bowlers, Jess Jonassen (fifth) and Erin Osborne (eighth), are also spinners, while off-spinning allrounder Grace Harris could also come into consideration for her Ashes debut.

Quick Single: Praise for Jonassen as T20s loom

Harris, a 21-year-old from Queensland, was called into the T20 squad to replace the injured Delissa Kimmince and performed superbly in her debut series against Ireland last week, taking 2-15 in the opening match and putting together knocks of 39 not and 19 not out to be named player-of-the-series.

"Spinners play a massive part in T20 cricket and the two players they've brought in certainly suit the T20 game and have done well in the past," Lanning said.

"They're going to really add to their side, but we've got a fair few spinners in our side as well.

"So we just have to play to the conditions as much as we can."

Quick Single: Stars complete sweep of the Irish

The opening match in Chelmsford will be the first time the two nations have clashed in the game's shortest format since Australia scored a thumping six-wicket win in the 2014 World T20 final in Bangladesh.

However, England have a 12-8 all-time advantage over the Southern Stars in T20 cricket and an impressive 6-2 record at home.

Australia have lost their last five T20 matches to England in the UK across tours in 2011 and 2013 and their last victory over the Old Enemy there was back in 2009.

However, Australia are currently riding a 16-game T20 winning streak against all comers since their last loss to New Zealand in April 2014, while England have won nine of their past 11 matches.

"I think the T20 series is going to be a really close one, the format suits both teams quite well," Lanning told AAP.

"We're sure that England will bounce back really hard from the Test match, so we know we're going to have to play really well to get the win we need."

Fast-scoring Lanning, who is the world No.1 ranked women's T20 batter just ahead of opposing captain Charlotte Edwards and another Englishwoman Sarah Taylor, is keen to get back among the runs again after scores off 3 and 0 in the Test.

"I didn't really contribute with the bat in the Test match, but that’s the way it goes," Lanning said.

"Sometimes you've just got to take your medicine and move on, so I'm looking forward to the T20 series.

"It suits my game, I really enjoy playing T20 cricket."