Pace aces set sights on teaming up to target White Ferns

Australia debutante Darcie Brown admits she would relish the chance to take the new ball alongside fellow pace ace Tayla Vlaeminck after breaking into the national side for the first time.

Brown received T20 cap No.54 ahead of Tuesday's second T20 against New Zealand, impressing with her raw pace and bounce at Napier's McLean Park as she finished with figures of 1-26.

The 18-year-old came into the XI in place of fellow right arm quick Vlaeminck, who is being carefully managed after returning from a serious injury to the navicular bone of her right foot, which kept her sidelined for 12 months.

However, Brown says she would jump at the chance to play in the same XI as her pace counterpart if the opportunity presented itself.

The pair are the only members of the Australian squad (and among the few in the world) currently capable of breaching the 120 kph mark.

"Yeah definitely, I'm just happy to watch Tayla but to be able to bowl with her in a game would be pretty cool," Brown said on Wednesday.

"We'll see what happens."

It is a scenario Australia trialled during the centre-wicket practice sessions they held in the lead-up to the series, when Vlaeminck and Brown charged in from either end to challenge top-order batters Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning.

On that occasion, they got the better of the experienced pair, and it might be enough to tempt the Australian brains trust into finding a way to fit both speedsters into the same XI.

"It was heaps of fun, we were discussing our plans and saying, that one was quick wasn't it; we just had a blast out there," Brown continued.

"It was good to bowl with her and learn off her out there.

"We're both competitive. Tayla's an absolute legend and she's been great to me since I've come into the squad.

"We'll push each other to get a bit quicker."

Whether Australia would risk the tactic in Thursday's must-win deciding T20I at Auckland's Eden Park, famous for its unique rectangular shape and short straight boundaries, remains to be seen.

However three upcoming ODIs at Tauranga's Bay Oval will provide further opportunities for coaching staff to experiment, knowing they will return to New Zealand for an ODI World Cup in 12 months' time, and – providing both are fit – they will likely have Brown and Vlaeminck in tow.

Australia have no shortage of pace options both in their playing XI and on the sidelines; one of the game's greatest in Ellyse Perry has bowled just one over across the first two T20Is, while the likes of Belinda Vakarewa, Tahlia McGrath and Hannah Darlington are sitting on the bench.

However, Australia coach Matthew Mott has made no secret of his desire to craft a bowling attack that will strike fear into the hearts of the world's batters, and having two express pace options in the national squad is a luxury not available to the Australia selectors in recent years.

"The selection panel is really committed to trying to get pace into our attack," Mott said.

"I think for a while in the world game pace off the ball has worked extremely well, and we've used that well.

"But with a World Cup coming up … we'll try and stay ahead of the (curve) and see what will work over here.

"Definitely there will be a pace flavour and swing (to the attack).

"That's why you Darcie Brown and Tayla Vlaeminck in there … (they) can come in and hopefully ruffle a few feathers."

Since arriving in New Zealand with the Australian squad earlier this month, Brown has embraced the chance to work with former Australia fast bowler, and fellow South Australian, Ryan Harris, who has joined the group as bowling coach for this series.

She said she hoped to glean some insights into her first-up performance, which saw her leak just 10 runs from her first three overs, but had 16 hit from her final six deliveries when she returned late in the New Zealand chase.

"It's his first tour as well so we've got that in common, he's also from Gawler and Northern Districts which is the club I play at," Brown said.

"To have him and his experience to learn off (is good) … I'll have a look at that last over with him and have a look at what I can change and what I can adapt."

CommBank tour of New Zealand 2021

Australia ODI & T20I Squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Molly Strano, Georgia Wareham, Belinda Vakarewa, Tayla Vlaeminck

New Zealand T20I squad: Sophie Devine (capt), Amy Satterthwaite (vice-capt), Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Frances Mackay, Katey Martin (wk), Thamsyn Newton, Hannah Rowe

New Zealand ODI squad: Sophie Devine (capt), Amy Satterthwaite (vice-capt), Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek - (games 2 & 3 only), Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Frances Mackay, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin (wk), Hannah Rowe (game 1 only), Lea Tahuhu

1st T20: Australia won by six wickets

2nd T20: New Zealand won by four wickets

3rd T20: April 1, Eden Park, Auckland, 1pm AEDT

1st ODI: April 4, Bay Oval, Tauranga, 9am AEDT

2nd ODI: April 7, Bay Oval, Tauranga, 12noon AEDT

3rd ODI: April 10, Bay Oval, Tauranga, 12noon AEDT

All matches will be shown live in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo