Alyssa Healy labels Bangladesh tour crucial for information gathering after 6-0 series win

Australia was barely troubled in six white-ball matches against Bangladesh, but there was more at stake in the first tour there in a decade.

Australian captain Alyssa Healy labelled her team’s unbeaten six-match tour of Bangladesh “hugely worthwhile” for the local intelligence gained ahead of the T20 World Cup in September despite the home team failing to provide any substantial competition.

The return to international cricket of both spinner Sophie Molineux, who took 11 wickets across the T20s and ODIs, and speedster Tayla Vlaeminck after lengthy injury lay-offs were among the pluses for the Australians who are seeking a fourth-straight World Cup win later this year.

Australia won the sixth and final clash in emphatic style, dismissing Bangladesh for just 78, with Vlaeminck taking 3-12, after bashing out 6-155.

The Aussie bowlers only allowed the home team to pass 100 in two of the six games, all played at the same stadium in Dhaka, and victories were achieved without much stress.

But Healy said the scouting trip would pay huge dividends when the Aussies, most of whom were experiencing the foreign conditions for the first time, returned for the World Cup where the opposition from the rest of the world would be more fierce.

“I think we’re adapting really well, which is what we speak about a lot, whether it’s with bat or ball, we want to adapt to conditions really quickly,” Healy said after the final win.

Sophie Molineux starred as she cements her spot in the Australian team. Picture: Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images

“Everyone in the squad is taking something home that they can work on for when we come back here in September, so it’s been hugely worthwhile for us.

“The results went our way but from a big picture perspective, and what we’re building towards in September, October, I think we got everything we possibly could out of this series.”

Molineux, recalled for the home series against South Africa after more than two years out injured, has jumped over former world No.1 bowler Jess Jonassen as the preferred left-arm spinner and justified the selectors’ call.

She was named T20I player of the series and finished the tour having taken 11 wickets in five matches at 7.54 and with Vlaeminck, who only played two T20s, adds an extra layer of depth for the World Cup.

“We’ve had different players of the match and different players of the series across the two series, so that’s been really pleasing as well,” Healy said.

“Everybody’s standing up and when they need to and grabbing opportunities which is cool.

Tayla Vlaeminck took 3-12. Picture: Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images

“It’s obviously great to have someone like Tay back, she’s a real point of difference within world cricket, and Soph Molineux’s consistency is outstanding, so they’re both real attributes to our side.”

The “tired” Australians didn’t waste any time getting out of Dhaka, flying home just hours after their final win, with many having travelled from India where they spent three weeks playing in the Women’s Premier League.

Originally published as Alyssa Healy labels Bangladesh tour crucial for information gathering after 6-0 series win