Brown progresses from 'short pies' to wicket-taking feast

Darcie Brown is beginning to reap the benefits of her first year as a full-time cricketer, crediting her pre-season and a busy summer schedule for bowling fewer "short pies" in recent months.

Brown made her international debut in New Zealand a little under 12 months ago, playing one ODI and one T20I, before taking on a greater role against India at the start of the summer when Tayla Vlaeminck was sidelined due to injury.

She had mixed results against a powerful India batting line-up, starting the series with a match-winning 4-33 before being taken for 63 runs in the following game and going wicketless in the day-night Test.

But the right-armer says the experience has helped her gain a better grasp of her craft, particularly when best to execute her bouncer.

She went on to finish third on the WBBL|07 wickets tally with 20 in 15 games before taking key scalps against England, including 4-34 in the first ODI, to help Australia defend 205 and retain the Ashes.

"I've been trying to bowl a bit fuller, and then use the short ball as an actual weapon," Brown explained on Thursday.

"In that India series, I was bowling some short pies.

"But with consistency and getting stronger, it'll be better ... it all depends on the conditions and the pitch. After a while, if we're using the same pitch, it gets a bit dead so it's probably not the best idea to bowl a bouncer because it will just sit up and be really easy for the batter.

"But I'll always keep it in the back pocket as a variation."

The 18-year-old will again shoulder more responsibility than expected at this World Cup, following another serious foot injury to fellow speedster Vlaeminck.

Brown said the conditioning work she had put in during her first proper pre-season after graduating from high school had stood her in good stead for the demands of this summer, while she was also seeing the upside in seven days' rest during quarantine in New Zealand.

"I worked really hard this pre-season, especially on my core strength. It's a really important aspect in fast bowling," she said.

"At the start of pre-season, I couldn't hold a 20-second plank, but now I can hold it longer, thank goodness.

"I've been working on that and lots of side stuff, because lots of fast bowlers get side strains, so there's a lot of injury prevention in that too.

"I feel so much stronger at the crease and that shows with how I've been more consistent.

"I'm still not quite there yet but if you compare it to last season, it's a lot better.

"I'm feeling really good ... it's been good to have these seven days to just recharge and rest and let the let the body recover.

"It has been a pretty busy season, but we've got load management for a reason and I'm really looking forward to getting stuck back into training."

Australia have been unwilling to take any unnecessary risks with the South Australian, wrapping her in cotton wool for the final two Ashes one-dayers after she pulled up sore from the Test and first ODI in Canberra.

Brown is prepared for the fact she will not be able to play every match across a World Cup campaign that will feature seven round matches and potentially two finals in the space of a month, but is confident Australia's pace stocks will thrive no matter who takes the field.

"Everyone wants to play but I don't mind putting my feet up every now and then and just watching the girls just play cricket - they're a pretty good team to watch," Brown said

"In the Ashes, when players didn't play, others would step up.

"In that last game, Belsy (Annabel Sutherland) took four wickets and absolutely killed it.

"So we know no matter who's in the actual playing 11, they'll step up and do their role really well."

Australia's World Cup squad will be released from mandatory isolation in Christchurch on Thursday evening.

They will not hold their first formal training session until February 25, but players will be on light duties throughout the week, including gym and running sessions, before warm-up matches against West Indies (February 27) and New Zealand (March 1).

Women's ODI 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 ODI World Cup 2022 fixtures

Mar 5: v England, Seddon Park, Hamilton, 12pm AEDT

Mar 8: v Pakistan, Bay Oval, Tauranga, 12pm AEDT

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