Indian Women Will Play Pink Ball Test Match For First Time

Indian women will play in the Pink Ball Test match for the first time, will compete with Australia.

Confident after winning the third and final ODI against Australia, the Indian women cricket team will now look to maintain the same momentum in their first Day-Night Test against the hosts starting today.

The Indian team is playing with the pink ball for the first time, so the players have no idea what will be the effect of the bright pink ball.

Australia played the only day-night Test in November 2017. He too could not get much practice, but his fast bowlers could wreak havoc on the green pitch of the Metricon Stadium.

India had held England to a draw in June playing the first Test after seven years. Players and experts, however, feel that the pink ball challenge will be a tough one.

India and Australia last played Test in 2006. The current players of both the teams are Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami, who played in that Test.

Harmanpreet Kaur will not be able to play in this match either, although she did not practice. Mithali said, ‘Harman’s thumb was hurt while fielding, so she is out. Her injury has not fully healed yet.

Fast bowler Meghna Singh, who has made an effective debut in the ODI series, batsman Yastika Bhatia may get a chance to make her Test debut.

Experienced Jhulan, Meghna, and Pooja Vastrakar will spearhead the pace attack, while the spin bowling will be handled by Sneh Rana and Deepti Sharma.

Wicketkeeper Tania Bhatia is set to return, while Poonam Raut, who was out of the ODI series, can also play.

Australia, on the other hand, suffered a pre-match setback as their vice-captain Rachael Hans was ruled out due to a hamstring injury.

Captain Meg Lenning said that the team will replace him with a fast-bowling all-rounder or specialist batsman. Annabel Sutherland, who has performed well in ODIs, can get a chance.

Team India:

Mithali Raj (Captain), Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Shefali Verma, Poonam Raut, Jemima Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana.

Yastika Bhatia, Tania Bhatia, Shikha Pandey, Jhulan Goswami, Meghna Singh, Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gaikwad, Poonam Yadav, Richa Ghosh.

Team Australia:

Meg Lenning (capt), Darcy Brown, Meylan Brown, Stella Campbell, Nicola Carey, Hannah Dalton, Ashley Gardner, Alyssa Healy.

Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molinau, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Redmayne, Molly Strano, Annabel Sutherland, Tyla Blemink, Georgia Wareham.