Search

show me:

India series just the start for Aussies

3 minute read

A multi-format series win over India is just the first step in a huge summer of cricket for Australia's women, with Ashes spots on the line in the WBBL.

BETH MOONEY of Australia.
BETH MOONEY of Australia. Picture: (Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

Beth Mooney is relieved she only has to play for - and not pick - Australia's team for the women's Ashes starting in January.

Despite the absence of fast bowler Megan Schutt and allrounder Jess Jonassen and with the hamstrung Rachael Haynes absent for over half the series - Australia still wrapped up an 11-5 multi-format series win over India on Sunday.

The campaign may have seen the end of Australia's long one-day international winning streak in the third ODI in Mackay but the hosts also gave eight debuts to several players across all formats and came out victorious.

Mooney, whose 61 in the 14-run win in the third Twenty20 international on the Gold Coast continued her own excellent recent white-ball form, said the series win was a great start to a massive summer.

The WBBL starts on Thursday and Mooney fully expects the standard to be intense as players vie to be a part of the multi-format series against England starting with the sole Test in Canberra from January 27.

"The WBBL has been a huge tournament on the calendar for us for the last six years and this year won't be any different," Mooney said.

"We're really grateful that Cricket Australia and the WBBL are doing everything they can to get that tournament up and running and making sure we've got some of the best internationals in the world playing in it.

"That experience for those players in that competition coming up against the best players in the world, only means that come selection time it's going to be pretty tough for the national selection panel to decide that squad for the Ashes and the World Cup."

Mooney has joined the chorus of players hailing the multi-format series concept, and is hopeful it is one which offers more and more opportunity for women's cricketers around the globe.

"That's the way forward for us to get a few more Test matches in, whether it's two or three a year, or three or four a year, whatever it is," Mooney said.

"Just getting different countries exposed to this series and I think what we'll see is the best team across a long sustained period of time will be the clear winner at the end of the series.

"That's what we want cricket to be.

"We want to test our skill-sets for a long period of time, given we don't play five Test match series against different countries.

"This is the way forward for us and hopefully this is a sign of things to come."

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au