'Locals' ready to strike in second ODI

Adelaide Strikers stars from both sides of the Tasman are tapping into their local knowledge as Karen Rolton Oval prepares to host its first one-day international.

The boutique ground, situated close to the city centre and not far from the iconic Adelaide Oval, is the venue for Sunday’s second Commonwealth Bank ODI Series match between Australia and New Zealand, with the White Ferns needing a win to keep the series alive.

Three players are more familiar with the ground than most: Australia spearhead Megan Schutt and New Zealand stars Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine, who find themselves lining up together in the Strikers blue in the Rebel WBBL.

“I don’t get too many opportunities to play at home, especially coming from Adelaide, so I’m really excited to get out on the park somewhere that’s had really good matches of women’s cricket already this year,” Schutt said as the Australian squad touched down in the City of Churches on Saturday.

“Hopefully we can continue that.”

The Strikers played three matches at Karen Rolton Oval – named after the legendary former Australian captain – during WBBL|04, with notable performances including Devine’s unbeaten 99 in a Super Over thriller against the Hobart Hurricanes, while Schutt captured 3-21 against the same opponents the following day.

The trio of Schutt, Bates and Devine will no doubt feel the most at home on Sunday, but Schutt joked she didn’t expect Australia’s batters to hit her up for too many tips, with her performances with the willow at the ground this summer including two golden ducks.

“No one listens to a bowler,” she laughed. “I haven’t made too many runs at Karen Rolton but it’s a pretty simple oval, to be honest.

“It’s nice once you’re out there, I think the batters will love it but there’s also a little something for the bowlers too.

“The pitch should be pretty good and the field’s pretty fast as well, which isn’t always the best thing for a bowler, but I think it’ll produce a good brand of cricket.”

Devine in particular has a taste for the scoring big runs at Karen Rolton, with knocks of 99no from 53 (plus 16no off 3 in the Super Over), 40 from 26 and 46 from 36 at the venue this summer.

White Ferns skipper Amy Satterthwaite made no secret of the fact she’d be looking to Devine and Bates for their expertise ahead of what looms as a must-win game for her team, who are aiming to win an ODI series against Australia for the first time since 1999.

“(Their knowledge) is really important,” Satterthwaite said after Friday’s game. “I think that’s the beauty of having played in the WBBL over here, we know the grounds we’re coming to which is always pleasing and we understand conditions reasonably well.

“I’m sure they’ll have a lot of insight for us which we’ll have to learn pretty quick, as will Australia.

“It’s a quick turnaround which isn’t a bad thing, we’re able to reflect pretty quickly and get (Friday’s loss) in perspective, tweak a couple of things and hopefully come out better.”

Meanwhile, Schutt believes there’s plenty of room for improvement for the hosts after they fought back to claim a thrilling five-run victory at the WACA Ground on Friday.

Dissatisfied with her own figures of 2-63 from 10 overs on Friday – despite capturing the key wicket of Bates early in the New Zealand chase and helping seal victory at the death – Schutt hopes to make a big impact with the ball in front of her home crowd.

“If I’m honest I think I bowled way too many pies,” Schutt said. “At the end there when it became more like T20 cricket (I was happier), it’s a format I’m comfortable with (but) I’d like to improve for the next game.

“It’s always a close contest with the Kiwis and hopefully the next two matches we can come out with a win but they’ll be good matches as well.

“We definitely know we’ve got a lot of improvement to go from the last match, which is a good sign for us but I think (New Zealand) will be thinking the same thing.”

Australia were still sweating on the fitness of allrounder Nicola Carey as they arrived in Adelaide on Saturday, after she was ruled out of the opening ODI due to a back complaint.

Carey flew to Adelaide on Friday ahead of her teammates, with the aim of recovering in time for Sunday’s one-dayer, which gets underway at Karon Rolton Oval at 10.20am local time on Sunday (10.50am AEDT).

The match will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and the Seven Network and can be live streamed via Kayo, with news, scores and highlights on cricket.com.au and the CA Live App.

CommBank ODIs v NZ 

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicola Carey, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Georgia Wareham

New Zealand squad: Amy Satterthwaite (c), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin, Katie Perkins, Anna Peterson, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu

February 22: Australia won by five runs

February 24: Second ODI, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide

March 3: Third ODI, Junction Oval, Melbourne