How Aussie spin sisters Molineux, Wareham, King and Gardner could be key to T20 World Cup triumph
All eyes will be on the pace duo of Tayla Vlaeminck and Darcie Brown, who have been named in the same World Cup squad for the first time, but it’s Australia’s spinners who are set to be the envy of the competition.
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It’s the incredible bowling depth that could be the key to Australia winning a record fourth-consecutive T20 World Cup.
While all eyes will be on the pace duo of Tayla Vlaeminck and Darcie Brown who have been named in the same World Cup squad for the first time, it’s Australia’s spinners that are set to be the envy of the competition.
Shelley Nitschke has a talented trio to choose from in Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham and Alana King. Throw in Ash Gardner’s off-spin, and it makes for a lethal attack that should thrive in the UAE.
The question always arises before a tournament whether you can pick all four in the same XI. King is adamant “the spin sisters” can be a point of difference for Australia in this tournament.
“We’ve done it before and hopefully it’s not going to be the last time that it gets done,” King said. “The four of us work really well together.
“Yes, Wolfie (Wareham) and I bowl leg spin and Soph turns it the same way. But I think everyone in this spinning cartel, or the spin sisters as I like to sometimes call us, we just offer something so different. And I think that’s going to be critical in a World Cup.
“I think the mindset of the Australian team is never satisfied, as well as evolving our game all the time. Batting took over for a bit but it’s brought bowlers back into the game now and becoming a bit crafty with variations.
“Hopefully surfaces can help with that. Being selfish as a bowler, I’d love to see pitches that are a bit more fair rather than they just want it to be a big batting spectacle. Conditions where you have to get yourself in, but once you’re in, there’s runs there.
“I think bowlers have had to step up a little bit over the last few years and I think they have done beautifully. I think Australia has led that for many years.”
It will be another new challenge for this Australian team from Saturday as they prepare for their first major tournament in the UAE.
King might never have played a game of cricket there previously – “I’ve never even been to Dubai, only in stopovers,” she said – but she has adapted quickly in the warm-up games. The leg-spinner finished with figures of 4-30 against the West Indies, after also producing a batting cameo of 21* off 13 deliveries.
The 28-year-old has always prided herself on having the ability to break a game open. And she’s confident she can do it again this tournament if given the opportunity, even if she needs her teammates help to keep a lid on her excitement.
“I want to be as consistent as I can and challenge the batter on the crease, both edges of the bat with a few tricks hopefully up your sleeve,” King said. “My mindset doesn’t really change. I want to keep being an attacking leg spinner.
“Hopefully I can come on and be the bowler that the captain is like, ‘We need a wicket here, we’re backing you in’. That’s how I feel every time I get the ball.
“It’s also not putting that pressure on yourself. Don’t get me wrong, I want the ball every over if I can. But, sometimes it’s just making sure that you’re nice and relaxed in those moments and not too highly aroused.
“I’ve voiced that to Midge (Alyssa Healy) and the people around me. If you see me get a bit too excited or get a bit frustrated, either way, just have a word and just make sure that I’m all good to go for the next ball.
“When you’re on top, you know the juices are flowing and you want to keep bowling. But it’s having that presence of mind to keep things really calm and be clear on your plan. And then just do it and have fun.
“And that’s when I’m bowling my best is when I’m clear, I’m having fun and I’m stuck into the contest.”
King is a far more experienced bowler than even last year where she helped the Aussies win their last T20 World Cup crown.
Bowling in domestic competitions around the globe, she’s now a viable option for Healy to bowl at any stage of the innings having particularly worked on her ability in the powerplay and at the death.
Yet, it’s the positive, competitive rivalry within the team that keeps pushing her to improve. King, Wareham and Molineux are all best mates who spent years together in the Victorian system. While a stalwart of the Australian team, Jess Jonassen, didn’t even make this year’s squad.
That’s why King is so focused on doing the basics well. She’s confident that’s what can set her apart.
“I think we secretly might love the competitiveness that gets brought out from us when we are bowling together,” King said. “I think it brings out the best of us, and that’s across all bowlers in the team.
“I can try different variations, whether it’s from the crease. My wrong’un will come out if it comes out. And moving to Perth, I think my top spinner has really flourished.
“But I don’t like to have too many tools in my toolbox. I want to be the most consistent in my stock ball than any other variation, that’s gonna get you the most amount of wickets.”
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Originally published as How Aussie spin sisters Molineux, Wareham, King and Gardner could be key to T20 World Cup triumph
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