Australia v India women’s ODI series: Teenage speedster Darcie Brown helps extend unbeaten streak to 25 wins
A new Australian superstar has trounced India in Mackay with a superb ODI performance, and she’s only 18 as she set a national record.
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Teenage bowling sensation Darcie Brown lived out a reality TV style dream as the 18-year-old combined with a couple of established superstars to stretch Australia’s one-day winning streak to 25 in Mackay.
The worry for the home team trying to keep the world record streak alive in the international season-opener against India was rustiness and the inexperienced bowling attack after the top two bowlers in the world were unavailable.
But a stunning one-two punch from Australia’s next generation of quicks, Brown and first-gamer Hannah Darlington put the home team on the front foot before superstar openers Rachel Haynes (93 not out) Alyssa Healy (77) helped hammer home a comprehensive win.
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Australia reached India’s target of 8-225 just one wicket down in the 41st over with captain Meg Lanning scoring an unbeaten 53 as Haynes fell agonisingly short of her second ODI century.
While superstar Ellyse Perry showed the effects of two weeks hard quarantine in the lead-up to the game with a lacklustre opening effort in Australia’s first match since April, 18-year-old Brown showed the bowling future is in exciting hands.
Playing just her second one-day game for Australia, the South Australian who just wants to “bowl as fast as I can” rocked the Indian openers who had flayed an out-of-sorts Perry in her worrying opening spell.
Given the new ball for the first time in two years in the absence of Megan Schutt, Perry went for 26 from her opening two overs before being yanked from the attack by Lanning.
Brown on the other hand, who “got whacked” in five overs against India in a practice game last weeked, was near unplayable in a player of the match performance.
She snared the opening two wickets of the game in her first three overs, and then two more in her second spell, including a wicket first ball of her sixth and eight overs. She finished with figures of 4-33 become the youngest bowler to ever take four wickets in an ODI for Australia.
A huge congratulations to Hannah Darlington, who has received ODI cap 145 from Ashleigh Gardner, becoming the third Indigenous woman to represent Australia! #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/oR8xMqbivH
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) September 21, 2021
Yewwwww 💪🼠atta girl @DarcieBrown03 🇦🇺 Give us a couple more aye 💚💛 #AUSvIND
— Megan Schutt (@megan_schutt) September 21, 2021
This time last year 18yo Darcie Brown hadn't even made her @WBBL debut. Now has an ODI 4-fa in her second match! #AUSvIND
— Laura Jolly (@JollyLauz18) September 21, 2021
Brown could have had five wickets, if not for a dropped catch by Lanning.
“The practice match didn’t go to well for me. I’m just happy to get a few poles,” she said.
Having only made her international debut against New Zealand in a T20 in March, then her ODI debut two weeks later, Brown said she was still getting used to being part of the Australian squad.
“It’s pretty surreal, I feel like I am watching the telly, but live. It’s weird,” Brown said.
“But it’s really cool to be in the same room as all these girls. I am pretty star struck.”
Darlington, who is only 19, also snared two wickets on debut after she became the third Indigenous woman to play for Australia and was presented her cap by fellow indigenous star Ashleigh Gardner.
Perry, however was the worry after being given the responsibility of leading a pace attack which boasted Brown, Darlington, and Tahlia McGrath, playing her first ODI since last October.
Bowling the first over of the season, Perry bowled six wides in her opening two overs, which went for 26 runs.
“This is as rusty as I have ever seen Ellyse Perry,” former Test batsman Brad Hodge said in commentary.
Perry has only bowled one 10 over spell in an ODI in the past three years before the game, and finished with 0-37 from just four overs after bouncing back in her second two-over spell.
The two teams will clash again on Friday.
Healy: Why we’re embracing the critics
— Robert Craddock
Compliments alone has never been a sign you’ve cracked the big time in sport and, deep down, Australian wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy knew it all along.
Being criticised, scrutinised, and analysed to the nth degree, feeling the stinging thud of a brickbat landing among the bouquets, is the true mark people are taking you seriously.
And the women’s game is finally earning the credit – and criticism – it deserves.
“For a while all of the media were so positive about us and wanted to pump us up and while it felt good it was all a bit fluffy,’’ said Australian cricket star Healy, who welcomes the increased scrutiny a blossoming profile brings.
Australia’s women’s cricket team accept the tone has changed from good natured “aren’t you wonderful’’ support to more forensic analysis, praise and criticism that comes with being professionally paid.
They have crossed the Rubicon into the world of high expectations and know there is no turning back … not that they want to.
They can even pinpoint the precise moment it happened.
“You could tell it changed early in the T20 World Cup rounds in Australia last season,’’ said opening bat Beth Mooney.
“We lost to India and suddenly team selections and the way we were playing was under scrutiny we had never really had that before. But it really helped us grow as a team. I welcomed it.’’
The team’s stunning record, including a world record 24 match ODI winning streak, has made them to women’s cricket what the All Blacks are to rugby union – so successful that their losses often create more publicity than their wins.
Healy was the first player to feel the heat when she had a form slump before the start of last year’s Cup which Australia famously won by beating India before 86,000+ fans at the MCG.
“There was a genuine discussion about whether I should open the batting because I wasn’t making runs and I loved the debate because it showed people were interested,’’ Healy said. “There were some fair points made.
“I am normally really positive about my form and feel it’s only one innings away but I remember reading this one story pointing out the reasons why I should drop down the order and thinking ‘maybe, I shouldn’t be opening’.
“We feel people are starting to take your sport seriously when they are critiquing what you are doing.
“I can remember opening the newspaper and there was a full page spread on Steve Smith and why he is not scoring runs. Sometimes it’s not fair but you know people care about Steve Smith scoring runs so you want to know why he is not.
“I just felt before the World Cup it was like we were going all right but no one was saying what we were not doing well.’’
With Fox Cricket turning its attention to seven international matches to be played between Australia and India, keeping great Adam Gilchrist had noted the transition from the commentary box.
“With profile and full time professionalism comes greater scrutiny,’’ Gilchrist said.
“I can relate to that “fluffy’’ comment Alyssa made because we have seen people working through phases like comparing it to the men’s game with lines like “wow, they actually bowl pretty quick – not as quick as the men but still quick’’ or “gee they are athletic.’’
“I don’t think anyone meant to be demeaning but they felt that surprise. Now they are just assessed on their stand alone quality without comparison to the men’s game. That’s terrific. Meg Lanning has pioneered a way of batting which has taken a lot of the women with it.
“One of my favourite sights in the women’s game is Beth Mooney coming down the pitch and hitting against the spin over cover. No one says it is just like the men’s game because it is legitimately part of the women’s game.’’
Colourful commentator Kerry O’Keeffe is also a close watcher of the women’s game and noted how champion batter Ellyse Perry gives bowlers a 25cm by 25cm shoebox around off stump where she will respect their work.
If it’s shorter or wider than that, look out. The champion will be out to get you.
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