C’mon Aussie, hit coronavirus for six at women’s T20 World Cup final

Sunday’s game at the MCG shapes up as the most important match in the history of women’s cricket.

Alyssa Healy, left, and Delissa Kimmince at the MCG ahead of Sunday’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 final against India. Picture: Mark Stewart

It shapes as the most important match in the history of women’s cricket. The cricketing gods have deliver­ed a dream billing: the Aust­ralian T20 world champions at home, in one of the great sporting cathedrals, against an Indian side whose fortunes could change the course of the game.

For Meg Lanning’s team, this World Cup final at the MCG on Sunday is a chance to build on years of success­ by cementing a place in the nation’s sporting ­psyche, in front of what organisers hope will be the biggest crowd at a women’s sporting contest­.

If the Indians repeat their ear­lier tournament victory over Australia, cricket organisers believe that it will be the breakthrough moment­ for the women’s game in India, the most influential country in modern cricket.

Set against the backdrop of the coronavirus epidemic, the match — which is to be played on International Women’s Day — will test the resolve­ of sports fans. Organisers’ hopes of beating the current record — 90,185, set at the 1999 soccer world cup final in California — had been fading as the coronavirus outbreak worsened and Australia’s form in the early stages of the tournament dipped. But a rush of ticket sales on Friday­, following Australia’s rain-drenched semi-final victory, suggests­ many fans have overcome their fears about being in a ­massive crowd.

More than 75,000 tickets have already been sold.

Scott Morrison urged Aust­ralians on Friday to set aside any ­concerns about the virus and flock to the MCG.

“Unless you’ve got symptoms, there’s no reason not to get out and get behind Australia on Sunday night at the MCG when we take on India,” the Prime Minister told The Weekend Australian.

Josh Frydenberg will be sitting in the outer with his family. “Aust­ralians should feel comfortable and confident as they go about their normal lives and enjoy great sporting events like this,’’ the Treasurer said.

Fast bowler Sophie Molineaux also issued a call to arms. “You’d want to be there … because 90,000 people at the MCG, India v Australia, Katy Perry (singing), I think it’s going to be a pretty special day,” she said.

Batting sensation Alyssa Healy said the tournament was “always going to be something a lot bigger than just cricket”.

“To see people embrace the different women’s sporting codes around the country is really exciting,’’ she said. “I think it’s going to be the start of a real change in this country and hopefully we can get a win. If not, it’s just going to be a really exciting day.”

In India, the father of teenage Indian star Shafali Verma marvelled at how quickly perceptions of the women’s game had changed.

“Strangers, neighbours, random passers-by have stopped me to say, ‘Your daughter has forced us to follow women’s cricket’,” Sanjeev Verman said this week. “There was a time when people used to say I’m ruining my daughter’s life by making her play.”