Australia bowled out cheaply after big selection calls
Scott Bailey |
Australia have been bowled out for 133 in their series-opening Twenty20 against India after making the huge call to drop vice-captain Tahlia McGrath.
Sent in to bat by India at the SCG, Australia lost wickets at regular intervals and were unable to build momentum at any stage.
Georgia Wareham top-scored with 30, but none of the hosts were ever really able to take charge of the innings as India seamer Arundhati Reddy took 4-22.
The total was the lowest Australia have been bowled out for in a T20 for almost six years, dating back to the start of the 2020 home World Cup.
After Australia fell to 2-27 early, Phoebe Litchfield (26) and Ellyse Perry (20) briefly threatened to take the game away from India.
But both were caught trying to take the bowling on, prompting a collapse from 2-67 to all out for 133.
With Sophie Molineux taking the reins from the retiring Alyssa Healy, the match is Australia’s first of six T20s scheduled ahead of June’s T20 World Cup.
And with the team’s trophy cabinet now void of a T20 or ODI World Cup crown, selectors made several momentous calls in Sydney.
Besides McGrath, veteran seamer Megan Schutt and the hard-hitting Grace Harris were also left out.
But it was McGrath’s omission that was the most notable on Sunday night.
The 30-year-old McGrath looked poised to eventually take over from Healy as captain until recently, having deputised for her on 15 occasions.
But a difficult 2025 prompted officials to instead opt for Molineux as skipper, with Ashleigh Gardner replacing McGrath as vice-captain.
Nicola Carey was selected in McGrath’s place on Sunday night, scoring 12 after being called upon for the first time since knocking back a national contract in 2023.
The allrounder has spoken at length about wanting to prioritise more time training at home when she made the call, having felt her game plateau as a fringe player for Australia.
AAP