Slow-go zone: Aussies alert to rivals' spin tactic

Australia captain Meg Lanning expects other countries to follow the blueprint laid out by New Zealand off-spinner Leigh Kasperek as they seek to expose any possible weakness in her all-conquering No.1 ranked ODI side.

Kasperek ran riot in the final two one-dayers against Australia, taking 6-46 and 3-24 across the two matches, and prompting pundits to question why she had not been included in the White Ferns line-up for the series opener, nor the three T20Is that preceded it.

Her super-slow spin bowling into a stiff breeze at Tauranga's Bay Oval brought undid Australia's best batters; Alyssa Healy (twice), Rachael Haynes (twice), Ashleigh Gardner (twice), Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney all deceived by balls delivered at speeds at times as slow as 38kph.

"It's something we need to get better at," Lanning said after Saturday's series finale, which saw Australia claim a 21-run win despite Kasperek's triple-wicket maiden that turned the game on its head. 

"It's something we've spoken about it a lot as a group and we need to execute better but credit to Kasperek, she bowled extremely well and she bowled to the conditions extremely well. 

"She was bowling into a really strong breeze so it was dropping a lot, as well as the really slow pace.

"Often when you see the ball tossed up a lot your first instinct is to come at it, and perhaps we need to rethink how we want to play her because she's had a couple of really good games against us and she's bowled extremely well. "

Kasperek's twin hauls triggered memories of a familiar approach employed by India leg-spinner Poonam Yadav during last year's T20 World Cup opener in Sydney, when the diminutive bowler claimed 4-19 to upset the tournament hosts.

Given there seems to be little else capable of dismantling an Australia ODI outfit that is on a 24-game winning streak, it is a tactic likely to be employed by other rivals in next year's ODI World Cup, also to be played in New Zealand.

"We'll need to chat about it and work out individually what we need to do to play that sort of bowling better because it will keep coming through world cricket, especially on older wickets," Lanning said. 

"It's a good challenge for us for our batting group and we're looking forward to coming up with plans and ideas to combat it."

Australia will return to New Zealand next March for the ODI World Cup, the sole piece of silverware missing from an overwise overflowing trophy cabinet.

Lanning declared their six-match reconnaissance mission a success, with experienced gained and intel gleaned from T20I matches in Hamilton and Napier, and the three ODIs in Tauranga, to be critical in planning for the event.

"The conditions (on Saturday) were tricky for batting, the wicket was the same one we played on for the first two games," she said.

"It was holding a bit and that's probably what we'll get through the World Cup, when we play at the same venues over and over again.

"I think there's still a fair bit we can improve on and learn from, but this game was a great lesson for us.

"Overall, we achieved what we wanted to. We experienced the conditions we'll be back playing in in 12 months' time, we introduced a couple of new players to our squad and they've been excellent coming in, we were able to continue improving and winning as well."

Australia used just 12 players across six limited-overs matches on this tour, handing a debut to 18-year-old fast bowler Darcie Brown in both formats but otherwise not drawing on a bench featuring left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux, off-spinner Molly Strano and pace bowlers Tahlia McGrath, Hannah Darlington and Belinda Vakarewa.

However, Lanning believes there will be more than enough game time across the next year for all those vying for spots in the final 15-player squad for the World Cup to press their claims, not only at international level but across the Rebel WBBL and 50-over Women's National Cricket League.

"To win World Cups you need a great squads and good depth and I think we've got that with our team," the Australia captain said. 

"Over the last few years we've done that well, we've introduced players with the skill sets that we think are going to make a difference for us. 

"The other thing is our domestic competitions are really strong, the WBBL is a great tournament to expose young players to pressure situations and I think that will play a big role as well."