Cricket enthusiasts gear up for the standalone women’s Test between India and Australia, set for March 6 to 9 in Melbourne post-ODIs. Australia has revealed its playing group, excitingly featuring uncapped duo Rachael Trenaman and Maitlan Brown.
These rising stars shone for Australia A versus India A in a Brisbane four-dayer last August. Joining the camp in Perth, they fill voids left by injuries: Kim Garth’s quad woes rule her out, Ellyse Perry battles a similar issue, and Sophie Molineux sits out with back trouble.
Trenaman earns her first national squad spot as Perry backup; the star all-rounder eyes a batting-only role if cleared. Brown, the 28-year-old quick, marks a comeback since 2021, backed by a stellar domestic haul of 16 scalps in 10 outings for New South Wales.
Alyssa Healy assumes leadership duties sans Molineux, making this her international swansong. Her recent ODI masterclass – 158 off 98 against India – underscores her legacy.
Australia Test XI: Alyssa Healy (c), Darcie Brown, Maitlan Brown, Ashley Gardner, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Georgia Voll.
India’s formidable unit: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Amanjot Kaur, Richa Ghosh (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Pratyusha Raval, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Renuka Thakur, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare.
With youth blending seamlessly into experience, Australia eyes a strong start in this pivotal encounter.