Stumps - Australia 96-3
Well, what a fascinating day’s play at the Waca. It wasn’t just the new waterslides providing spills and thrills with 13 wickets taken during the day. Australia won the toss and chose to bowl and made the most of their opportunities with some early wickets – starting with Lucy Hamilton taking the wicket of Smriti Mandhana on debut.
India put some partnerships together, but none solid enough to build a big total. Jemimah was the best of their batters, finishing with 52, but she’ll be disappointed that she couldn’t go on with it after spooning up a catch to Gardner in the deep. Kashvee provided some hope for India late in the innings, but no one was able to stay with her and they finished on 198, well below what they would have been aiming for.
An early wicket brought some spark back to India, with Satghare on debut bowling a peach of a ball to get in between Voll’s bat and pad and take out her leg stump. Kranti picked up the wicket of Litchfield and then Satghare taking down Healy – both caught by Jemimah, who was her usual electric self in the field.
A solid partnership by Perry and Sutherland late in the day means that Australia probably wins the day, but it’s a close call with some strong bowling by India’s debutante seamers.
All in all, a great day of cricket – with plenty more to come! Join us back here tomorrow as we take you through day 2.
27th over: Australia 96-3 (Ellyse Perry 43, Annabel Sutherland 20)
Our first look at spin in this innings in what will likely the be the last over before stumps, with Sneh Rana into the attack. There’s almost a chance straight away with Perry edging down the leg side, but it hits Richa on the leg and runs away to the boundary for four. Perry gets very strong on defence after that and then finds a single to give Sutherland the strike. Sutherland gets inside the line of the ball and pulls it away for four to make it a very productive over for Australia.
26th over: Australia 87-3 (Ellyse Perry 38, Annabel Sutherland 16)
Perry starts with a little drop and run to Kranti and then a misfield by Harmanpreet gets Sutherland a boundary and her score starts to tick up. As we edge closer to stumps, these two are looking fairly comfortable, but cautious enough to hold on to their wickets.
25th over: Australia 82-3 (Ellyse Perry 37, Annabel Sutherland 12)
Kashvee resumes a good spell and Perry sneaks a quick single in early. Kashvee gives away her third front foot no ball for the innings so far, which is something she needs to rein in a bit. It’s a good over for her aside from the extra though.
24th over: Australia 80-3 (Ellyse Perry 36, Annabel Sutherland 12)
Still no sign of spin with the ball still moving. Kranti gets Perry playing and missing again – she’d love to pick up one of these key wickets before stumps. It’s a very tight start to the over, before Perry manages to sneak a quick single on the second last ball of the over.
23rd over: Australia 79-3 (Ellyse Perry 35, Annabel Sutherland 12)
Perry and Sutherland continue to tick the score over as Kashvee continues her spell. Kashvee tightens up her line and gets out of the over without too much damage.
22nd over: Australia 74-3 (Ellyse Perry 34, Annabel Sutherland 8)
Satghare continues her spell with Sutherland on strike – she has been Australia’s big scorer in Tests over the past few years, but she needs to ride out this tricky night session to set herself up for another opportunity in this match. She picks up a well-run two by picking the gap perfectly and bisecting the fielders.
21st over: Australia 72-3 (Ellyse Perry 34, Annabel Sutherland 6)
Kranti comes back into the attack after a short break and Sutherland plays her watchfully for a couple of balls, before guiding one around the corner to rotate the strike. Perry finds another boundary with a straight drive and then another with a flick off the pads through deep midwicket.
20th over: Australia 63-3 (Ellyse Perry 26, Annabel Sutherland 5)
Satghare is bowling well to her field – Healy tries a few aggressive shots, but there is a fielder there to cut them off each time. Eventually she tries to go up and over and Jemimah celebrates as she takes the catch. Sutherland starts with a defensive shot, but it’s a very strong and confident one. Next ball she drives one even more confidently past deep point for four to get off the mark.
WICKET! Alyssa Healy c Jemimah b Satghare 13 (Australia 58-3)
Satghare builds some pressure on Healy and then gets her trying to hit over the top, falling instead into the safe hands of Jemimah.
19th over: Australia 58-2 (Ellyse Perry 26, Alyssa Healy 13)
Perry slashes hard at the first ball of Kashvee’s over and nearly plays it on to her stumps, but she’s safe. She’s getting bat on ball at the moment, but isn’t able to play the ball through the gaps to find runs this over. A maiden from Kashvee.
18th over: Australia 58-2 (Ellyse Perry 26, Alyssa Healy 13)
Satghare comes back into the attack after a very good opening spell. She doesn’t quite hit her length first ball and Healy gets the chance to play her favourite pull shot, but it’s just a single. Perry gets three from a back foot drive next ball – things are much less in the bowlers’ favour at the moment. There’s a decent appeal for lbw, which India decide to review and it looks quite good, but DRS shows the impact is outside the line. The replay reveals the ball actually clipped the stumps after it hit her pads, but it didn’t dislodge the bails and she gets a life.
17th over: Australia 54-2 (Ellyse Perry 23, Alyssa Healy 12)
Healy starts the over with a four, looking a little more settled now. She and Perry continue to score and rotate the strike, stepping things up a gear and removing that dot ball pressure that had been building.
16th over: Australia 47-2 (Ellyse Perry 22, Alyssa Healy 6)
Kranti isn’t ready to stop yet, she’s into the eighth over of her spell. Healy gets herself all tangled up and nearly plays it into her stumps. Like Litchfield, she seems to be waiting for this spell to come to an end. Finally Healy picks up some runs on the finally ball of the over.
15th over: Australia 44-2 (Ellyse Perry 22, Alyssa Healy 3)
Perry gets herself off strike early in Kashvee’s over and then Healy has a big slash that looks like it might be in danger of being caught, but can’t find a fielder. Perry is back to being in control and works one through third for four. A muted appeal on Perry for lbw, but no one seems to interested in a review. There’s a near mix up between the batters on the last ball of the over, but Healy scrambles back to her crease in time.
14th over: Australia 38-2 (Ellyse Perry 17, Alyssa Healy 2)
I thought Kranti might have a rest now after getting her target in Litchfield, but she continues on. She has picked up Healy’s wicket quite a few times before, so I assume they’re hoping they can get her cheaply before she settles in. She nearly gets Healy’s outside edge late in the over and then again next ball!
13th over: Australia 37-2 (Ellyse Perry 17, Alyssa Healy 2)
We resume after a little drinks break, with Perry on strike to Kashvee. She gets a couple of leg byes first ball, falling well wide of the keeper. That’s followed by a (very) quick single to get Healy on strike and she wastes no time getting off the mark. There’s an lbw appeal in the middle of in the over, but not a very convincing one.
12th over: Australia 31-2 (Ellyse Perry 16, Alyssa Healy 0)
Kranti bowls the sixth over of her spell and Perry is watchful for a couple of balls before an aggressive pull shot, which can only get her a single. Litchfield looks far less comfortable against Kranti, she’ll be hoping this spell comes to an end very soon. Alas, she falls on the final ball of the over to bring Healy to the crease.
WICKET! Phoebe Litchfield c Jemimah b Kranti 9 (Australia 31-2)
Litchfield never looked comfortable to Kranti and eventually she is tempted into chasing a wider delivery and Jemimah takes an excellent diving catch to dismiss her. The third umpire takes a look and declares that it is indeed out.
11th over: Australia 30-1 (Ellyse Perry 15, Phoebe Litchfield 9)
We get our first look at Kashvee with the ball in hand after a good batting innings from her. Litchfield is having some trouble with the pace and movement and she gets a little impatient, but eventually she comes down the pitch and drives it through the covers for four.
10th over: Australia 25-1 (Ellyse Perry 15, Phoebe Litchfield 5)
Kranti has Litchfield playing and missing now and it’s a fascinating battle between these two. Litchfield looks very frustrated with herself – whether she plays and misses, gets bat on ball but can’t pierce the field, or leaves it – all seem to be equally distressing to her at the moment. She finds a single on the last ball of the over to retain the strike.
9th over: Australia 24-1 (Ellyse Perry 15, Phoebe Litchfield 4)
Perry looks settled now, after some early trouble with playing and missing. She sends the first ball of the over down to the boundary for four. However I clearly cursed her by talking about her being done with playing and missing because she proceed to play and miss twice more, before edging one that falls short of the slips.
8th over: Australia 20-1 (Ellyse Perry 11, Phoebe Litchfield 4)
Perry channels Steve Smith and appears to see something behind the bowler, pulling out of the first delivery fairly late. But unlike Steve Smith, she recovers quickly and gets on with the game straight away and doesn’t require anyone to scale the sightscreen to remove a small piece of tape. Litchfield gets on strike and finds her first runs in four overs with a little steer down to third.
7th over: Australia 17-1 (Ellyse Perry 11, Phoebe Litchfield 2)
Another lbw appeal early in Satghare’s over, but again no love from the umpire and no review. Litchfield still doesn’t look settled – it’s hard work out there so far. She’s looking more confident with her defensive shots though, even though she’s not scoring too many runs just yet.
6th over: Australia 17-1 (Ellyse Perry 11, Phoebe Litchfield 2)
A big appeal on Perry for lbw midway through the over and there’s a nervous wait while India decide whether to review – they’re known for taking it quite late. They don’t take it that time, but next ball there’s an even bigger appeal for caught behind and this time they do review – with 3 seconds remaining on the DRS timer. It’s quite a bizarre review – I could drive my car in between the gap between bat and ball. Perry punishes them next ball with a strong cut shot the boundary for four. India appeal again for lbw, but they can’t get the umpire on board and they’re a bit shy about reviewing after making such a big mistake earlier in the over.
5th over: Australia 13-1 (Ellyse Perry 7, Phoebe Litchfield 2)
Satghare is really getting Perry playing and missing a lot, she’s getting so much movement. Perry eventually gets back on ball and finds some space in the field, but Satghare is not making it easy for her so far.
4th over: Australia 10-1 (Ellyse Perry 4, Phoebe Litchfield 2)
Litchfield gets the strike again, searching for her opportunity to get off the mark. She finds her opportunity, working one off her hip down towards the rope near fine leg for two. She’s not getting a lot of chances to get bat on ball, but she’ll feel a little bit of pressure come off now that she’s off the mark.
3rd over: Australia 6-1 (Ellyse Perry 4, Phoebe Litchfield 0)
Voll’s demise early in the over brings Perry to the crease with her faded old helmet. She kind of just wafts at the first ball and is fortunate that it doesn’t catch the edge. It seems to be quite tough out there under lights at the moment. Satghare lets Perry off the hook with a low full toss and Perry doesn’t miss out, driving it through the covers for Australia’s first boundary.
WICKET! Georgia Voll b Satghare 2 (Australia 2-1)
Wow, what a delivery from Satghare! Voll came forward to defend it, but Satghare found the gap between bat and pad and slid it through to take out leg stump.
2nd over: Australia 2-0 (Georgia Voll 2, Phoebe Litchfield 0)
Kranti Gaud opens the bowling for India from the other end, with a beautiful sunset at the Waca in the background and Litchfield gets her first look at the strike. Litchfield is lucky not to deflect one back on to her stumps early the over – she looks a little uncomfortable here under lights for now, we’ll see if she starts to settle. A maiden for Kranti to kick off her first spell.
1st over: Australia 2-0 (Georgia Voll 2, Phoebe Litchfield 0)
Here we go! Satghare takes the new ball for India – a tough ask since she wouldn’t have had much time to recover since she finished batting. However, she’s making things happen early, she gets a little edge on Voll that falls just short of the slips. Voll gets off the mark with a little flick off her pads that’s worked nicely for two. A good start from Satghare, just those two runs from the over.
After a quick break, the players are back on the field and we’re ready to get back into it!
India 198
India put up a good late fightback through the efforts of Kashvee Gautam, who finished with a solid 34 not out. But she just couldn’t find anyone to stay with her and India have finished well below par.
Earlier in the day they looked like they had things under control with Jemimah ticking along nicely, but once she and Richa were gone in quick succession, it looked unlikely that India would reach 200. That they got so close is thanks to Kashvee, who was very strong on debut.
However, we all know the saying – don’t judge a pitch until both teams have batted (or collapsed) on it. We don’t know exactly how the Australians will fare out there and 198 could well be a decent score. We won’t have to wait long to find out, with Litchfield and Voll due to come out and open the batting very soon. Stay with us, it should be a great finish to the first day!
WICKET! Kranti c Sutherland b Brown 1 (India 198)
Kashvee did so much work to hold on to the strike to start the over and then she immediately runs a single and puts Kranti back in the firing line. It only takes a couple of balls for Brown to work her over and catch a top edge and Sutherland commits hard to the catch – you can imagine she’s thinking “That’s how you take a catch you fools!”
62nd over: India 197-9 (Kashvee Gautam 33, Kranti Gaud 1)
Sutherland gets her fourth wicket – all four have been on the first ball of an over! Kashvee is quite keen to get back on strike, but it’s tough for Kranti to get the ball away, but eventually she manages to rotate the strike back to the set batter and get herself off the mark.
WICKET! Sayali Satghare c Mooney b Sutherland 7 (India 195-9)
After the drop a few overs ago, Mooney now manages to hold on to a catch from Sutherland. Satghare just kind of swipes at the ball and it pops up to Mooney.
61st over: India 195-8 (Kashvee Gautam 32, Sayali Satghare 7)
The first ball of Brown’s over nearly goes straight through Kashvee, but instead raps her on the inside of her thigh, which would probably hurt quite a lot! It might have rattled her a bit, because next ball she top edges it straight up in the air. Hamilton, Litchfield and Gardner all chase it, but none of them really commit and it falls in between them. King’s warming up in the background, so I’d expect to see her back in the attack soon.
60th over: India 193-8 (Kashvee Gautam 31, Sayali Satghare 7)
Another leading edge to start Sutherland’s next over, but they can’t quite get these edges to carry to the field at the moment. The cameras are zooming in on Kashvee’s shirt – it clearly belongs to Harleen Deol, but the name has been crudely taped over. Apparently she was a late call up to the Test team, but it does feel like maybe they could have brought a few blank shirts just in case?
59th over: India 192-8 (Kashvee Gautam 30, Sayali Satghare 7)
Brown starts her over with a low full toss that Kashvee pounces on for another two runs. Prior to that ball, Litchfield was caught on camera playing a bit of air guitar. I’d think she was referencing the Australian men’s 4x100m relay team from the Sydney 2000 Olympics if it wasn’t for the fact that she was born in 2003. Brown nearly catches Kashvee’s edge with a short ball, but Kashvee evades her.
58th over: India 189-8 (Kashvee Gautam 27, Sayali Satghare 7)
Sutherland gets us back underway and Kashvee drives the first ball nicely for two – picking up where she left off! She repeats the shot for the same outcome late in the over – a good over for Kashvee all up.
The players are back on the field and we’re ready to resume!
Don’t forget you can email me any thoughts you have during this game. Whether you’ve got opinions on field placings, shot selection or that new waterslide park at the Waca, I want to hear about it. The link is at the top of the page – drop me a line!
In Alyssa Healy’s final match for Australia, perhaps you wish to spend some time reflecting on her career while you have your dinner/(insert meal most relevant to the current time in your timezone). Well, funny you should say that, here’s something I prepared earlier.
57th over: India 184-8 (Kashvee Gautam 22, Sayali Satghare 7)
Darcie Brown returns to the attack now and she’s getting a bit of movement from the first ball. Kashvee plays a lovely shot, a very nice drive down the ground, but the outfield is quite thick and the ball holds up, so she only gets a single from it. It’s time for a break now – the dinner break apparently! So go and refuel wherever you are and we’ll see you back here soon for the final session of the day.
56th over: India 181-8 (Kashvee Gautam 21, Sayali Satghare 5)
A huge swing from Kashvee to start Sutherland’s over, but as the saying goes, there is “no ding”. The Australians are quite desperate to get these last two wickets, you can sense the frustration in the field. There’s another lbw appeal, but the umpire isn’t interested and no one is convinced enough to review it.
55th over: India 180-8 (Kashvee Gautam 20, Sayali Satghare 5)
A big appeal on Satghare midway through the over, but it looks to have struck her outside the line and the Australians decide not to review. An uneventful over aside from that, a maiden for Gardner.
54th over: India 180-8 (Kashvee Gautam 20, Sayali Satghare 5)
King is indeed back on the field, handing her vest back to Wareham. Sutherland comes back on to bowl after a very successful spell earlier today. She gets an edge first ball, but Mooney juggles a very simple catch and puts it down – the fourth dropped catch from Sutherland’s bowling today. Kashvee makes the most of the life she’s been given and works the next ball off her pads to the rope for four.
53rd over: India 176-8 (Kashvee Gautam 16, Sayali Satghare 5)
Gardner continues her spell and Mooney has decided to just call out “catch” every ball it seems. But it doesn’t put Kashvee off, she finds the boundary with a standing sweep shot and then works one nicely off her hip for two. On the sideline, King’s orange vest has worked its way up to a bit of a scarf situation around her shoulders and she’s doing some stretches, so we may see her again soon.
52nd over: India 169-8 (Kashvee Gautam 9, Sayali Satghare 5)
King is off the field at the moment, she has been struggling with calf cramping for about an hour or so. But she’s in the orange vest and still hanging around the boundary, so it seems like she’s going to be OK. Satghare hits her first boundary with a lovely straight drive back past Hamilton for four. Hamilton recovers well with a series of dots, but she’s warned by the umpire for running on the pitch, which seems to throw off her rhythm a bit.
51st over: India 165-8 (Kashvee Gautam 9, Sayali Satghare 1)
Gardner once again gets an edge that pops up near the close in fielders – she’s making quite the habit of that. One of them might one day carry to one of the fielders! Satghare works one around the corner and then Kashvee goes bang with a huge sweep shot for a one bounce four and then follows it up with a two.
50th over: India 157-8 (Kashvee Gautam 2, Sayali Satghare 0)
A wicket on the first ball of the over brings Satghare out to the centre and she is playing watchfully after seeing the last few batters go out trying to smash it. Another wicket maiden for Hamilton.
WICKET! Sneh Rana c McGrath b Hamilton 5 (India 157-8)
Hamilton strikes first ball of the over, getting Rana slashing wildly at a leg side delivery. The leading edge goes straight up in the air and it’s the simplest catch for McGrath.
49th over: India 157-7 (Kashvee Gautam 2, Sneh Rana 5)
Kashvee gets one past Gardner, but not quite far enough past her to get off the mark. She’s patient though, she’s not letting the dot ball pressure get to her. She’s here for a long time, not a good time. Of course, as soon as I say that, she has a big slashing sweep at the ball and top edges it, but luckily for her, it falls safely and she runs two to get off the mark.
48th over: India 155-7 (Kashvee Gautam 0, Sneh Rana 5)
Hamilton is still getting the ball moving, she gets very close to Rana’s edge at the start over the over and the straightens her right up and forces a very strong defensive shot. Hamilton throws a bouncer in midway through the over, but Rana isn’t too concerned by it. She tries her slower ball, but misses her length and it’s a low full toss that Rana punches down the ground for four.
47th over: India 151-7 (Kashvee Gautam 0, Sneh Rana 1)
Gardner again gets an edge early in her over that doesn’t quite carry to short leg. Kashvee is navigating things well enough for now, she’s defending well while being very penned in by the fielders under the lids all around her.
46th over: India 150-7 (Kashvee Gautam 0, Sneh Rana 0)
Lucy Hamilton returns to the attack and she doesn’t quite hit her line to start, bowling what would be a wide in limited overs cricket – it’s probably quite a novelty for her to not have it called a wide, so few are her opportunities to play red/pink ball cricket! She changes her angle and comes around the wicket, which works a treat. After a few dot balls, she gets Jemimah swinging and makes the breakthrough.
WICKET! Jemimah Rodrigues c Gardner b Hamilton 52 (India 150-7)
Hamilton comes into the attack and has an almost immediate impact, cramping Jemimah up until she gets frustrated and plays a loose shot to deep square leg, where Gardner is waiting to pounce.
45th over: India 150-6 (Jemimah Rodrigues 52, Sneh Rana 0)
Gardner now and she gets a little edge early, which falls just wide of Voll at short leg. After a few dots, Jemimah decides to get the scoring back underway, getting down low with a lovely sweep shot. Richa gets too impatient though and loses her wicket on the last ball of the over.
WICKET! Richa Ghosh c King b Gardner 11 (India 150-6)
With the pressure building from the past few overs, Richa gets frustrated and slaps at one, which is easily caught by King at midwicket.
44th over: India 149-5 (Jemimah Rodrigues 51, Richa Ghosh 11)
Hello everyone! King resumes her spell and there’s an early almost catching opportunity through backward point, but it’s not a serious chance. It’s a good over from King after a tough start earlier – just the two singles from it.
Fifty for Rodrigues!
43rd over: India 147-5 (Jemimah Rodrigues 50, Richa Ghosh 10) The physio has trucked around the circumference of the field to check on King, but she seems content to try and stretch it off herself. A gorgeous cover drive off Gardner brings Rodrigues fifty – what a super innings it has been . An lbw shout off the last ball of the over – umpire says no, and is right – Healy goes upstairs but there’s a brush of bat on ball.
And that’s it from me, thanks for your company – Megan Maurice will see you through till stumps. Bye!
42nd over: India 141-5 (Jemimah Rodrigues 44, Richa Ghosh 10) King adjusts her collar, tugs her sleeves and wheels in. Lots of encouragement suddenly from behind the stumps. A single from a top edged sweep, and King is suddenly hobbling between balls.
41st over: India 138-5 (Jemimah Rodrigues 42, Richa Ghosh 9) Just a couple off Ghosh.
Updated
40th over: India 136-5 (Jemimah Rodrigues 42, Richa Ghosh 7) Our first glance of Alana King, the new women’s table-topper in ODI cricket. But Rodrigues is on a mission, doesn’t want her to settle, and King is a little bit all over the place. First Rodrigues leans into a cover-drive for four, then glides a wide one down to the rope, then sweeps airily past a diving Hamilton’s left hand, before a fourth successive four, a better controlled sweep this time. 18 from the over.
Updated
39th over: India 118-5 (Jemimah Rodrigues 25, Richa Ghosh 6) Untold bounty, six off Gardner’s over, including a cover drive for four from Ghosh.
Incidentally, I saw a fantastic film last night The Corinthians: We were the Champions, about a Manchester women’s football club who defied the FA ban and travelled the world to become world champions. Some of the remarkable women in the film were in the audience – what pioneers. Anyway, a big recommend if you have the chance to see it.
38th over: India 112-5 (Jemimah Rodrigues 24, Richa Ghosh 1) Ghosh gets her name in the scorebook, a defensive tonk for a single. They pause for a drink, under an umbrella, and towel their faces. It’s horribly hot out there, 38 degrees at nearly 5pm.
37th over: India 110-5 (Jemimah Rodrigues 23, Richa Ghosh 0) Just a single to Rodrigues from Gardner’s over. It’s a patience game, who will break first? Ghosh has faced 15 balls without scoring so far.
36th over: India 109-5 (Jemimah Rodrigues 22, Richa Ghosh 0) Sutherland is bowling beautifully here, another skedaddles in from off, a hair’s breath from Rodrigues’ bat and stump.
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35th over: India 107-5 (Jemimah Rodrigues 20, Richa Ghosh 0) From the Inverarity end, Gardener, like a dancer, twirling from her left toe. Ghosh is taking the time to settle in.
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34th over: India 107-5 (Jemimah Rodrigues 20, Ghosh 0) Langer is not impressed by India’s lack of patience – and that’s a gorgeous ball from Sutherland, which snakes back, threads past the clueless Ghosh and yet somehow misses bat and stumps.
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WICKET! Deepti c Mooney b Sutherland 7 (India 107- 5)
Deepti is put out of her agony, offering a limp bat with static boots, and Mooney collects.
33rd over: India 107-4 (Jemimah Rodrigues 20, Deepti Sharma 7) Rodrigues looks the more comfortable of the two against Gardner, picks up two with a sweep to backward short leg.
32nd over: India 105-4 (Jemimah Rodrigues 18, Deepti Sharma 7) It’s a grey and damp morning in the northern hemisphere and that Perth sky is calling me. Another cracking over from Sutherland, just one from it.
31st over: India 104-4 (Jemimah Rodrigues 17, Deepti Sharma 7) Deepti giving cat on a hot tin roof vibes. Gardner spins the web, Deepti sweeps unconvincingly, then lunges., almost giving a catch to short leg
30th over: India 102-4 (Jemimah Rodrigues 17, Deepti Sharma 5) Talk from the commentators that Sutherland needs to take more of the bowling load, especially as Perry isn’t bowling. And here she is now. An lbw shout against Rodrigues, but half-hearted at best. Nice bowling though. Another maiden.
29th over: India 102-4 (Jemimah Rodrigues 17, Deepti Sharma 5) Gardner continues from her sole pre-tea over. Deepti has been dismissed five times by spinners so far this series (with one run out) and who knows whether that’s playing on her mind when she drops for a sweep, and misses. A maiden.
Afternoon session
28th over: India 102-4 (Jemimah Rodrigues 17, Deepti Sharma 5) They’re back after refreshments, Annabel Sutherland hurtling in. India work three here and there.
Tea - India 99-4
27th over: India 99-4 (Jemimah Rodrigues 15, Deepti Sharma 4) Ash Gardner with the last over before the break, Rodrigues plays it away without incident. Deepti and Rodrigues, bump gloves but Australia had the best of that first session.
“It was really exciting,” says Hamilton of her first Test wicket. “The support has been the biggest thing, getting my cap from Beth Rooney.”
Time for me to grab a coffee, back shortly.
Updated
26th over: India 99-4 (Jemimah Rodrigues 15, Deepti Sharma 4) Rodrigues on drives Hamilton, legs crossed, the ball accelerating as it rolls off the “elevated tabletop of the pitches” down to the rope. A push turns into an inside edge, and then Deepti is bewitched by a beauty that keeps low, and whips in.
25th over: India 94-4 (Jemimah Rodrigues 10, Deepti Sharma 4) Deepti, sugar plums in her head, has a go at Brown, slicing four past gully. Dot, dot, dot, dot, dot to follow.
24th over: India 90-4 (Jemimah Rodrigues 10, Deepti Sharma 0) Hamilton on the prowl for pre-prandial wickets. Rodrigues ploughs a couple through point and then picks up a lucky four through gully.
Key event
23rd over: India 84-4 (Jemimah Rodrigues 4, Deepti Sharma 0) Could have been worse for India as Deepti Sharma is hit on the leg first ball. Healy goes upstairs and the ruling is umpire’s call. Harmanpreet’s wicket is huge, she had looked in great touch from the off. Ten minutes or so till lunch.
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WICKET! Harmanpreet b Brown 19 (India 84-4)
A beauty from Brown! Hamanpreet, eyes on the prize, goes for another big drive and the ball bounds through the enormous gap between bat and pad and dances into the stumps.
22nd over: India 80-3 (Jemimah Rodrigues 4, Harmanpreet Kaur 15) The cameras have found Lucy Hamilton’s parents in the stands, Stephen and Emma Hamilton. “She was always outside, we’ve got four children, and two brothers challenged Luce everyday in the backyard. She idolised Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney and has Mooney’s keeping gloves from when she was 12.” Perhaps put off by mum and dad on camera, Hamilton then drops Harmanpreet (on 10) at gully and the ball flies for four. Sutherland trugs on.
21st over: India 75-3 (Jemimah Rodrigues 4, Harmanpreet Kaur 10) Healy beckons Brown back, and Rodrigues gets off the mark at last, after 12 balls, a couple dinked through the covers. Off stage, Mitch Starc is either eating a blue cornetto or holding a blue microphone, alongside a clutch of friends.
20th over: India 71-3 (Jemimah Rodrigues o, Harmanpreet Kaur 8) Harmanpreet making it look easy from the off, four through midwicket followed by an autumn crisp drive through mid off for four more. Rodrigues, meanwhile, is stranded on 0.
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WICKET! Rawal c Hamilton b Sutherland 18 (India 61-3)
Now a catch to go with Hamilton’s wicket! A beauty of a ball with some extra bounce, Rawal pushes uneasily, one hand off the bat, and Hamilton lands the prize at gully.
19th over: India 61-2 (Pratika Rawal 18, Jemimah Rodrigues o) Rodrigues is frustrated by McGrath’s accuracy as the first light of dawn starts to seep through my window. They take another drinks break.
18th over: India 61-2 (Pratika Rawal 18, Jemimah Rodrigues o) Dot to dot from Sutherland!
17th over: India 61-2 (Pratika Rawal 18, Jemimah Rodrigues o) Seven from the over – four from an edge, three, dumped and sticking, over mid wicket.
16th over: India 54-2 (Pratika Rawal 11, Jemimah Rodrigues o) A wicket (big wicket ) maiden, plus a possible drop of Rodrigues at short leg, and that after she’d got a working over from Sutherland from her first three balls.
WICKET Verma c Mooney b Sutherland 35 (India 54-2)
Verma dawdles into the shot and nicks behind where Mooney collects.
15th over: India 54-1 ( Shafali Verma 35, Pratika Rawal 11) A maiden for McGrath.
14th over: India 54-1 ( Shafali Verma 35, Pratika Rawal 11) A shout of catch! as Rawal pushes at Sutherland but the ball flies through Hamilton at gully and down to the rope. I think it went through her hands but I’m not sure – there aren’t huge numbers of slow-mo replays on offer. Verma pulls the last ball for four through the covers. And suddenly India are motoring.
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13th over: India 43-1 ( Shafali Verma 31, Pratika Rawal 4) And a double change as McGrath replaces Brown. It’s a busy first over – first Verma is beaten outside off, then she thrashes McGrath down the ground for four, finally she steps and pulls – Darcie Brown dives at mid on but the ball falls just out of reach.
12th over: India 35-1 ( Shafali Verma 23, Pratika Rawal 4) A change of bowler as Annabel Sutherland gives Hamilton a deserved rest. Five pairs of hands wait behind Rawal’s stumps. A maiden to start.
11th over: India 35-1 ( Shafali Verma 23, Pratika Rawal 4) Alana King is miked up and commentators congratulate her on knocking Sophie Ecclestone off the ODI bowling top spot after 1450 days. Brown squeezes India from her end too, five dots and wide, but Verma reaches for her last ball and sends her spilling through the covers for four.
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10th over: India 30-1 ( Shafali Verma 19, Pratika Rawal 4) I’ve spotted more spectators now, hugging the shade. Hamilton with another impressive over, and the players stop for their first drinks break on this scorching day.
9th over: India 29-1 ( Shafali Verma 18, Pratika Rawal 4) Still pitch black here in Manchester, as the cameras pan to an amazing outdoor pool and waterslide just the other side of the WACA. It looks heavenly. Anyway, another tidy over from Brown: a bouncer that Verma ducks and couple of good bits of fielding from Perry to prove me wrong.
8th over: India 26-1 ( Shafali Verma 15, Pratika Rawal 4) Hamilton follows up her first wicket with a maiden. Justin Langer purrs in the commentary box, “the perfect length.”
7th over: India 26-1 ( Shafali Verma 15, Pratika Rawal 4) Verma drops under a bouncer and then pings Brown through mid-off for four.
If you’re at the WACA or just watching at home anywhere around the world, do drop me a line.
6th over: India 22-1 ( Shafali Verma 11, Pratika Rawal 4) Such a great wicket! I’ve just realised that Hamilton is still a teenager – 20 in May. Rawal, also on Test debut, is squared up to her second ball and the ball flies for four.
WICKET! Mandana b Hamilton 4 (India 18-1)
Middle stump a go go! Shapes the ball back in and beats Mandhana’s drive. Hamilton clenches her fist and gets mobbed by her teammates – what a debut wicket for Australia.
5th over: India 18-0 (Smriti Mandhana 4, Shafali Verma 11) First boundary of the day and its a thing of gorgeousness, Verma purrs Brown though the covers.
4th over: India 14-0 (Smriti Mandhana 4, Shafali Verma 7) I’ve spotted a couple of people on Healy hill, sitting like white ducks on a green bank. A good battle building between Verma and Hamilton. Perry again looks more traction engine than Ferrari in the field.
3rd over: India 8-0 (Smriti Mandhana 2, Shafali Verma 4) There aren’t huge numbers in at the WACA, unless they’re camera shy. Perhaps there will be an after-work influx. Brown has the ball swinging, Verma doesn’t look entirely secure.
2nd over: India 5-0 (Smriti Mandhana 2, Shafali Verma 2) Test debutant Hamilton charges in, tall , strong, long chestnut ponytail resting down her back. A couple of runs for Verma past Perry, whose quad injury may be slowing her movement. Hamilton is keen on an lbw shout, and Healy agrees so they ask upstairs – but no joy as there’s an inside edge onto the pad - though the ball looped back in very nicely. Australia lose a review.
1st over: India 3-0 (Smriti Mandhana 2, Shafali Verma 0) Darcie Brown with the new ball, up against the woman with the highest strike rate of any female Test player and the finest cover driver in all Illyria. But a fairly quiet first over: a wide, and a couple of runs through the covers.
The cameras spot Mitch Starc on the boundary edge, both him and Healy with a best Test score of 99. Australia huddle and then Healy leads the team out, tugging down her baggy green as she strides out.
Blue blue skies and a healthy wind at the WACA as the teams line up for the anthems. Healy is beaming.
India XI - four Test debuts
Test debuts for Kranti Gaud, Kashvee Gautam, Pratika Rawal, Sayali Satghare.
India Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, Sneh Rana, Sayali Satghare, Kranti Gaud.
Australia XI - Hamilton and Perry play
A Test debut for left-arm quick Lucy Hamilton, while Ellyse Perry plays as a batter.
Australia: Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Voll, Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy (capt), Annabel Sutherland, Beth Mooney (wk), Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Alana King, Lucy Hamilton, Darcie Brown.
Australia win the toss and bowl!
Healy says she was torn but there was lots of grass on the surface yesterday. Harmanpreet would have fielded first too.
Preamble
Hello! Welcome to the first day of this one-off pink ball Test at the Waca, the last hurrah of the Australia-India series, and a grand four-day farewell to Australia captain Alyssa Healy, who prepares to un-velcro her pads one final time, aged 35, and leave a glorious career billowing behind her.
This will be Healy’s 299th match for Australia, but only her eleventh Test, such is the scarcity of women’s Test cricket – something else to mull over during the next four days. She’s never made a Test hundred, but if her blazing 158 in her final ODI is anything to go by, you wouldn’t bet against her ticking one last box on her way out.
Australia lead the multi-format series 8-4, so India will need the four points that come with a Test victory to level things up. They were fantastic in the T20 matches, which they won 2-1, but faded in the 50-over stuff, which Australia whitewashed 3-0.
Australia romped home in their last Test, against a demoralised England in January 2025, 16-0 and all that; while it’s been 20 months since India played in whites, thrashing South Africa by 10 wickets in Chennai.
With the grassy banks at Perth renamed Healy Hill, Australia want a celebration for their much-loved captain. India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur will have other ideas.
Play starts at 1.20pm local/4.20pm AEDT/10.50am IST. Pull up a chair and join us!
