Dual leg-spin reaps rewards for Australia

Australia's spinners stole the show at Bay Oval on Tuesday in their World Cup win over Pakistan – and it offered a glimpse into what the future may hold for the national team.

With quicks Darcie Brown and Tahlia McGrath missing the match and conditions suited to the slower bowlers, Australia recalled leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington for her first international game since March 2018.

She lined up alongside recent breakout star and fellow leggie Alana King, in the first time Australia's woman have played two leg-spinners in the same XI since Wellington paired up with Kristen Beams during the 2017 Ashes.

King and Wellington took three Pakistan wickets between them; King bowled Omaima Sohail with a well-executed wrong'un before she later had Fatima Sana caught behind, while Wellington took just five balls to strike, catching the edge of Nida Dar's bat to have her caught at slip.

The pair were backed up by an economical display by left-arm orthodox spinner Jess Jonassen, who helped keep the squeeze on their rivals with 0-33 from her 10 overs.

Speaking after the match, captain Meg Lanning suggested it may not be the last time King and Wellington form a potent pairing this tournament, despite the serious depth on Australia's bench which included spin-bowling allrounder Ashleigh Gardner, who remains in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19.

"I think Wellington showed that she will be a real weapon for us in this tournament," Lanning told cricket.com.au after Australia wrapped up a seven-wicket win.

"She's bowling really nicely and her and Kingy can play in the same team, there's no doubt about that.

"It'll come down to conditions and match-ups as well. We're always looking for wicket-taking options."

Competition for spots in the Australian bowling attack at this tournament is tough enough, and it will likely become even tougher later this year when Victorians Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux and Tayla Vlaeminck recover from their respective injuries.

Wareham had been the wrist-spinner of choice for Australia from late 2018 until she ruptured her ACL during the WBBL earlier this summer.

Speaking to cricket.com.au ahead of the World Cup, coach Matthew Mott reflected on Australia's current embarrassment of riches in that department.

"We feel very blessed ... we probably felt like we were a bit over reliant on Georgia at times, she'd done some great stuff for us, but now to have three genuine leg-spin options, it's almost a bit over the top in terms of what we've got to offer," Mott said.

"It's going to be fascinating to see how it all plays out over the next couple of years.

"They'll push each other and it'll be tough for spots, but I think Australian cricket will be the winner out of that."

Wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy had the best seat in the house to watch King and Wellington at work on Tuesday evening, noting after the match she was lapping up the challenge of their differing styles.

With the pitches expected to increasingly favour spin as they are heavily trafficked throughout the month-long tournament, it may become a more regular job for Australia's 'keeper.

"They're both very different … Kingy prides herself in really attacking the stumps and challenging both sides of the bat, and Wello bowls a ripping leg-spinner which is hard to play most of the time," Healy said.

"It's been a real challenge for me behind the stumps, I would imagine it's a real challenge for the batters too."

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington. Travelling reserves: Heather Graham, Georgia Redmayne

Australia's World Cup 2022 fixtures

Mar 5: Australia def England by 12 runs

Mar 8: Australia def Pakistan by 7 wickets

Mar 13: v New Zealand, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 15: v West Indies, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 19: v India, Eden Park, Auckland, 12pm AEDT

Mar 22: v South Africa, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 25: v Bangladesh, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

Semi-finals

Mar 30: Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 31: Hagley Park Christchurch, 12pm AEDT

Final

Apr 3: Hagley Park Christchurch, 11am AEDT

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports