Australian women’s team laud perfect preparation for Ashes opener at Trent Bridge
A stunning victory at Edgbaston for Pat Cummins and his team could be the start of a big week in England for the Australian Test teams.
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No Meg Lanning, no worries for the Australians who even brushed off rain wiping out their first chance to practice at Trent Bridge and a final few days spent fielding in the lead-up as “perfect” preparation for the Ashes opener in Nottingham.
Captain Lanning was a shock last-minute withdrawal from the tour, for reasons as yet undisclosed, thrusting Alyssa Healy in to the captaincy for the multi-format series and superstar all-rounder her deputy.
Things didn’t exactly go to plan in the final warm-up game for the Aussies who spent countless hours chasing the Dukes ball as England A batters pounded 562 runs.
It’s been a learning curve for the bowlers particularly, getting used to using the red ball again for the first time since the last Ashes Test in Canberra last December, where a Kookaburra was used.
But McGrath, brimming with as much confidence and enthusiasm as the reigning T20 and ODI World Cup winners, and current Ashes holders could possibly have, described the last outing as “perfect prep for us”.
”We really enjoyed it. We got tested, we had a long day in the field and we had some really good moments and some moments that we’ve had some really good discussions about and reflected on,” the Australian vice-captain said on the eve of the Test match.
“From a preparation point of view, we couldn’t be happier. We’ve had some really good chats, reflected and we’re going into this five-day game really confident.”
The absence of Lanning, and the retirement of her former deputy Rachael Haynes, has demanded new leadership from a group which also boasts a raft of young players experiencing England for the first time.
That includes new opening batter Phoebe Litchfield, and fast bowler Darcie Brown, who has already played 25 games for Australia, including two Tests, despite only being 20-years-old.
“Meg‘s an outstanding captain and it’s obviously going to be a bit different without her, but everyone’s stepped up and just found that five per cent extra,” McGrath said.
“It’s a collective approach with the side and Midge [Healy] is doing an outstanding job with leading from the front. Every time she speaks, everyone stops and listens. So we’re finding everyone’s stepping up and doing that little bit extra and we’re travelling really well as a group.”
“I look at our squad and I‘m just excited about how much talent there is. You look at the Phoebe Litchfields, the Darcie Browns, yes, they’re young in age but wow, they’re serious cricketers.
“I don’t think it matters who we put on the park, it’s going to be a really good team and yeah, we’re missing a bit of experience but we’ve got some talent and we’ve got a lot of domestic experience behind us as well so I’m excited for different individuals to stand up at different times.”
McGrath has been hugely impressed with Litchfield, who is expected to open alongside Beth Mooney as Healy moves down the order to manage her workload, which also includes the captaincy and wicketkeeping.
Litchfield, 20, has played ODIs and T20s for Australia, but never a Test match, and never toured England either.
“Phoebs has been unreal,” McGrath said.
“If I was her, I‘d be quite nervous, my first major tour away, and she’s like she’s been doing it for years.
“She‘s absolutely killing it, extremely hard working at training, and she’s so hard on herself, she just wants perfection. I’m really enjoying watching her journey and I’m excited for her, if she gets the opportunity, to watch her go out there and do her thing.”
The final make-up of Australia’s team remains unclear with coach Shelley Nitschke flagging the possibility of playing two leg-spinners - Alana King and Georgia Wareham - in the first of seven matches which will decide the Ashes.
Originally published as Australian women’s team laud perfect preparation for Ashes opener at Trent Bridge
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