Team success comes before tinkering: Haynes

A touch of experimentation is likely as Australia’s women continue their quest to lock down the perfect T20 blueprint ahead of the home World Cup early next year.

With the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka the next phase of Australia’s preparation for February’s showpiece ICC event, vice-captain Rachael Haynes insists that any tinkering will come at the back-end of the series – with securing victory front of mind. 

"We won’t be underestimating them at all, they had a good start to their tour with a win against the CA XI yesterday so it was nice to get a little bit of an insight into what they’re going to bring,"Haynes told cricket.com.au. 

However, with time in the middle a hot commodity as players endeavour to showcase their form in the lead up to the World Cup, it seems likely the Australian brains trust will want to maximise opportunity for all squad members. 

The dominant nature by which Australia recently secured victory in the recent series against West Indies meant several players returned home with less time in the middle than they hoped for. 

And while Haynes was quick to assign credit to their bowling attack and top order for the clinical manner in which they’ve won – she conceded that sometimes a lack of match practice can be tough. 

"I think our batters are doing a fantastic job as we saw in the Caribbean, but I think our bowling group has really stood out and restricted teams really well.

"It’s made it tough for players like me who are in the middle order, sometimes missing out on a hit but it’s a really good sign for our team and the players are doing a great job, so they deserve to be rewarded for that.”

Haynes pointed to the recent debut of 31-year-old Erin Burns in Australian colours as evidence selectors are open to tweaking the makeup of the team. 

"The team’s probably shown their hand a little bit in the series gone by," continued Haynes.

"It’s great to see players like Erin Burns get an opportunity, and Heather Graham was the one who was probably unlucky to miss out in the Caribbean.”

Graham, who was named in both T20I and ODI squads, has done her chances of debuting on home soil no harm in taking three wickets against Sri Lanka for the Cricket Australia XI on

Friday and is excited by the prospect of donning the green and gold for the first time.

"A debut on home soil would be something that I would absolutely love and cherish,"Graham told cricket.com.au at the conclusion of the Cricket Australia XI’s Super Over defeat. 

"Hopefully if it happens, I have enough time to get the family over from Perth as well.”

The first of three T20Is against Sri Lanka gets underway tomorrow afternoon at North Sydney Oval before the series moves to Brisbane for three ODIs at Allan Border Field. 

Every ball of the series will be broadcast live on Channel 7 and Fox Sports.

CommBank Series v Sri Lanka

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Erin Burns (T20I only), Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Heather Graham, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

Sri Lanka T20I squad: Chamari Atapattu (c), Harshitha Madavi, Shashikala Siriwardena, Anushka Sanjeewani, Hansima Karunaratne, Yashoda Mendis, Nilakshi De Silva, Dilani Manodara, Oshadhi Ranasinghe, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandhika Kumari, Inoshi Fernando, Achini Kulasooriya, Udeshika Probodhani, Ama Kanchana.

First T20I: September 29, North Sydney Oval, 2.40pm

Second T20I: September 30, North Sydney Oval, 7.10pm

Third T20I: October 2, North Sydney Oval, 10.10am

First ODI: October 5, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 10.10am

Second ODI:October 7, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 10.10am

Third ODI: October 9, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 10.10am

*All ODIs are ICC Women's Championship matches