We take a look at talking points and selection headaches for the Aussies ahead of their upcoming campaign against the White Ferns
Five questions for Australia's ODI squad
Who will open alongside Alyssa Healy?
With regular one-day opener Nicole Bolton out of action for this series, there’s a vacancy at the top of the Australian order alongside recently crowned Belinda Clark Award winner Healy. Captain Meg Lanning has suggested the role will be filled by other Beth Mooney or Rachael Haynes – both openers for their respective state teams, while both have also opened for Australia in the past. Lanning said on Wednesday: “It's going to be a difficult decision to see who we go with, both are very capable of partnering Healy up top and have had a great season so far so we'll look at it over the next week or so and decide who matches up best."
Can Ellyse Perry continue her run fest?
Ellyse Perry was in prodigious form through WBBL|04, scoring 777 runs at 86.33 and smashing the previous record for most runs in a season. It came after the allrounder was barely given a chance with the bat during the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean, batting at No.7 in the Australian order. But the 28-year-old generally comes in at No.4 in ODIs and will have ample opportunity to shine – will the result be another Perry bat-a-thon?
Which spinners will make the cut?
Australia suffered a blow on Friday when allrounder Sophie Molineux was ruled out of the series due to a shoulder injury suffered at training. Molineux stepped up brilliantly in the absence of fellow left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen in the ODIs against Pakistan last October, and the obvious replacement for the Victorian is Jonassen, who has found form at the right time and picked up seven wickets in the final three WNCL matches. The other incumbent tweakers in the Australian XI are leg-spinner Georgia Wareham and off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner, but if the WACA wicket looks like favouring the pace bowlers, selectors may decide against a three-pronged spin attack and instead look to either allrounder Delissa Kimmince or left-arm quick Lauren Cheatle. Whichever way they go, the wealth of options is an enviable position to be in!
Will Lauren Cheatle make her long-awaited international return?
Speaking of Cheatle, the left-arm quick last played for Australia against New Zealand in March 2017, almost two years ago. She’s since had a torrid run of injuries, but has turned things around this summer after a solid preseason, playing every game for the Sixers in WBBL|04 and finding form with the ball at the back-end of the domestic summer. That form won her selection in this squad, but cracking the Aussie XI is another challenge altogether – although they’ll certainly be tempted to give the 20-year-old speedster a go on the traditonally pace-friendly WACA wicket.
Can Australia keep up their Rose Bowl winning streak?
New Zealand haven’t won an ODI series against Australia since 1999, and Australia have held the Rose Bowl trophy since 2000. It’s a long record for Meg Lanning’s team to keep up, but one they’d be expected to continue given their No.1 ranking in the format, home ground advantage and New Zealand’s recent one-day series loss to India earlier this month. However, the White Ferns tend to rise to the occasion against Australia and the last two series have gone to deciders, so Australia can’t afford to take anything for granted. Every match in the series counts towards the ICC Women’s ODI Championship (which determines automatic qualification for the 2021 World Cup), adding another facet to this showdown between the fierce trans-Tasman rivals.
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: First ODI, WACA Ground, Perth
February 24: Second ODI, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide
March 3: Third ODI, Junction Oval, Melbourne