Australia v India Test 2021: Healy calls for DRS for Ashes
Both India and Australia were victims of some questionable umpiring calls in this Test and there’s a simple solution says Alyssa Healy.
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Alyssa Healy has backed the introduction of DRS for the women’s Ashes series, saying it should be available in every Test match to take the “howler” out of the equation.
Australia heads into the final day of its pink-ball Test against India on the Gold Coast on Sunday at 4-143, still 84 runs short of the follow-on after India declared its innings closed at 8-377.
Healy will watch on from the team dugout, at least initially, after being dismissed by Indian pace ace Jhulan Goswami, as will captain Meg Lanning, who was adjudged lbw to Pooja Vastrakar by umpire Claire Polosak despite getting a meaty inside edge on the ball.
While Australia’s multi-format series against India was initially planned for venues around the country, including a Test at the WACA, in Perth, it is being played entirely in Queensland due to ongoing Covid restrictions.
The Test match shift to the Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium has made the use of DRS impossible for the day-night clash but Healy said she would back the use of the system as a general rule.
“I’d definitely love to see it, I wouldn’t say no DRS if it’s available and I’m sure Cricket Australia would have it in place,” she said.
“Obviously there were a few logistical nightmares to be able to have it here with the venue shift but I’d love to see it in every Test match.
"I don't know how many people would actually walk out if there's no DRS" #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/HScKAdYOkO
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 1, 2021
“I think it makes it nice and fair and even.”
India also had cause to complain about umpiring decisions on Saturday, with Deepti Sharma (66) marched after being given lbw to debutante Stella Campbell despite replays showing the ball had pitched outside leg stump.
“The umpires don’t mean to make mistakes, we’re out there as players, we make mistakes on the regular,” Healy said.
“But to take out the howler would definitely be a nice thing.
“It wasn’t to be this Test but I’m sure in the Ashes things will be in place for that.”
Australia is scheduled to play England in a multi-format series in January and February, with the Ashes Test set for January 27-30 in Canberra.
PUSHING FOR VICTORY COULD END IN INDIA DISASTER
Ellyse Perry has overcome a slow start to her 250th international to become the first Australian to notch 5000 runs and 300 wickets in all forms of cricket.
Perry, who has struggled with her bowling action early this summer, going wicketless through the three-match one-day series, snared the scalp of Pooja Vastrakar for 13 just before the dinner break to notch her 300th international scalp.
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She will have the chance to add to her run tally after India declared at 8-377 just after the dinner break, leaving captain Meg Lanning with a big call about whether to push the pace and play for a result, or let the match peter out to a draw.
After resuming at 5-276, India dawdled through an opening two-and-a-half hour session, giving little indication they wanted to push the pace ahead of a declaration everyone saw coming.
Deepti Sharma brought up the 300 in the 113th over with a boundary off Ash Gardner but the priority was survival rather than pace.
The Aussies did little to help themselves though, with their fielding – usually a great strength of the team – continuing to be poor.
Seven chances were given up in the field – something that could cost them dearly with almost 100 overs of the four-day match lost to bad weather.
Sharma was dropped on 24 by captain Meg Lanning off the bowling of Annabel Sutherland, who was denied a maiden Test wicket despite being one of Australia’s best bowlers in the first innings.
Sharma went on to make 66 before being trapped lbw to Stella Campbell.
The young quick had just two short spells on the opening two rain-affected days but was outstanding on Saturday, getting the breakthrough with her second delivery of the day, after drawing an edge from Taniya Bhatia, with Alyssa Healy taking the catch.
Perry had Bhatia plum lbw before she was off the mark but failed to appeal, further hindering the home side’s efforts.
She finally got her women with the wicket of Vastrakar, with Sharma the last woman out before India declared eight balls later.
Will the Aussies be brave?
It’s the period commonly known as moving day in Test cricket but Saturday could just as easily have been renamed courage day in the women’s pink-ball clash on the Gold Coast.
With almost 100 overs lost to weather in the opening two days at Metricon Stadium, a bold move was needed from one of the captains to help force a result between Australia and India.
The advent of the multi-format series has been a definite plus for women’s cricket and the inclusion of a Test match along with T20 and one-day internationals has put more women’s Tests on the international calendar.
But the points format of the series is hardly conducive to pushing for a win.
After Australia’s 2-1 win in the one-day series, they lead the overall contest four points to two, with another four points on offer for the Test.
An Indian victory would not only put them ahead in the series but could put women’s Test cricket on the map in India.
But pushing for victory is a risky move given an outright loss would all but hand Australia the overall series.
The Indians started day three at 5-276 and largely dawdled their way to 7-359 at the end of a two-and-a-half hour session, all but ensuring they would pick up at least two points for a drawn match.
A result could be out of the question.
The opportunity was there for Meg Lanning to force the issue.
But courage was needed. Something different, take a chance.
Instead, the Aussies opened with Ellyse Perry and Ash Gardner. Hardly a poor choice – but also nothing different, nothing that had so far challenged the Indians.
For all of Lanning’s experience – this is her 203rd international – she is playing just her fifth Test.
It’s a different challenge for her as well.
When she did take a chance, the results came.
Debutante Stella Campbell – who had been given just two three-over spells in the opening two days – finally got the breakthrough, snaring Taniya Bhatia for 22 and then taking the dangerous Deepti Sharma lbw for 66 when she was brought on again just after the dinner break.
Leg spinner Georgia Wareham had had just one spell in the opening two days but her three overs before dinner on Saturday – while expensive – troubled the visitors.
Australia has a long road to travel if it is to salvage a result from this match.
And if it is to happen, it will take risk.
But that could pay off in a big way – not just for the Aussies in this match but for the future of women’s Test cricket.
Poor mistakes, toss call costing under-fire Aussies
In all the hoopla and hype surrounding the emergence of a new generation of Australian women’s cricket stars, it’s easy to overlook the mistakes of the team’s veterans.
Australia was at the mercy of a rampant Indian side on day two of their historic pink-ball Test on the Gold Coast on Friday, the tourists in control after opener Smriti Mandhana scored a maiden ton.
Aussie captain Meg Lanning has said she does not regret her decision to bowl after winning Thursday’s toss, despite the wicket failing to return the speed its greenish tinge suggested it could yield.
Australia’s young cohort of quicks may have influenced Lanning’s decision and it’s great to see she has such faith in her team.
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But the old adage that if you win the toss you bat, if you’re in doubt, think about it, then bat is one that may be playing on loop in Lanning’s mind at the halfway point of this Test.
Lanning’s decision may have been justified if her fielders had held their catches, especially in Thursday’s opening session.
But in handing exciting opener Shafali Verma three lives early – and seemingly disregarding reports of deteriorating weather – Australia was unable to capitalise.
It’s not just Lanning that’s under the spotlight.
Ellyse Perry entered the match under great scrutiny after a poor bowling performance in the one-day series.
Playing her 250th international at Metricon Stadium, Perry was hoping for a change of fortunes with the pink ball after working relentlessly on her technique.
She has been better, if not still at her best, but was let down early by her teammates, with the Australians turning in one of their poorest catching performances in recent memory.
A mix-up between Lanning and Beth Mooney in the slips cost her the wicket of Verma early on day one, before Perry’s own no ball cost the wicket of Mandhana on Friday before she had moved off her overnight score of 80
.
Mooney took a screamer on that occasion but when Perry got her action right in Friday’s second session, it was Mooney – playing her 105th international on the Gold Coast – who put down a chance to dismiss Indian captain Mithali Raj.
Mooney took an outstanding catch shortly afterwards to dismiss Yastika Bhatia after Perry found a leading edge and Annabel Sutherland’s direct hit to run out Mithali Raj before the rain came gave the Aussies a fighting chance to stay in the game.
Lanning has been spoiled for choice in terms of the bowlers at her disposal but her decisions – usually lauded – are suddenly under greater scrutiny.
The long wait to inject left-arm orthodox spinner Sophie Molineux on day two after she made the initial breakthrough, was questioned, as was the rotation of bowlers.
The Aussies have welcomed the scrutiny as a mark of greater interest in the women’s team.
But with weather intervening again on Friday, Australia will need its senior players to stand up if it has any chance to turn things around in the final two days.
The four Test debutants powering Aussie’s next gen
The talk before the match centred around Australia’s veterans.
But by the time the first ball was bowled in a historic pink ball Test between Australia and India, focus had shifted to generation next after the Aussies named four debutants, including three teenagers.
The Australian women had not played a Test match since taking on England in 2019, with the chance to don the famous baggy green a rare occurrence.
But in naming 19-year-old pair Stella Campbell and Annabel Sutherland, Darcie Brown, 18 and Georgia Wareham 22, Australia has ensured it bloods a new generation of Test cricketers.
An injury to Rachel Haynes during the recent ODI series meant there were only seven players with Test experience in the squad and the Aussies would field at least four debutants.
They had plenty to choose from, with nine members of the wider squad vying to make their Test debuts.
But how much Test cricket will they get to play?
A suspension of play at 5.30pm for the first summer thunderstorm of the season was more than just annoying for athletes that rarely get the chance to don the whites.
Australia has not played India for 15 years and the chance to play against one of the emerging powers in women’s cricket is thrilling for the players.
The nations have played 10 times and should be regular combatants in a Test series, not just a multi-format league.
Otherwise, like Wareham, who narrowly missed selection for the Ashes Test in 2019, players could be waiting years to make their debuts.
Wareham overcame a quad injury to take her place and avoid that disappointment again.
But any delay in her rehabilitation would have seen her miss out. At least the Aussies have another Test to look forward to this summer.
Cricket Australia recognised the weight of the moment.
Ellyse Perry – who notched her own milestone by starting her 250th international – handed Sutherland her cap, with the daughter of former Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland wiping tears from her eyes before accepting her baggy green.
Captain Meg Lanning gave Brown her cap, while Mitch Starc – who has been advising the bowlers this week – capped Campbell and former Test all-rounder Shelley Nitschke gave Wareham her longed-for baggy green.
It’s 15 years since Australia last played India in a Test and with the visitors well on top after the first session, the match is a great challenge for Lanning’s team.
While both Brown and Sutherland were affected by nerves – Brown was expensive in her four-over stint opening the bowling while the usually reliable Sutherland gave Shafali Verma (31no) one of her three lives with a dropped catch – the debutants will benefit plenty from their opportunities at Metricon.
Ironically it was Sophie Molineux that finally got Verma out.
The spin bowling all-rounder was one of three players to make their debuts against England in 2019.
She’s now a fixture, along with Ash Gardner and Tayla Vlaeminck, who misses this Test with injury.
Hopefully for the latest quartet, the next two years are full of Test opportunities.
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