We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Pitch Report
In the last three games in the English T20 League, the average scores in the first and second innings read 182 and 171 respectively and an average of 14.3 wickets fell at Edgbaston. In the men’s T20I between England and India, pacers took the centre stage, courtesy of a display of rash shots by the Englishmen. The pitch otherwise has enough for the batters to make headlines.
Teams
Probable XI for Australia: Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning (c), Tahlia McGrath, Rachel Haynes, Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown
Probable XI for India: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Sabbhineni Meghana, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Pooja Vastrakar, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad
Power Players
Smriti Mandhana has impressive stats against Australia. In 14 games, she has scored 465 runs at an average of 36 and a strike rate of 131. She looked in great touch on the white-ball tour to Sri Lanka, scoring a spectacular 94* in the second ODI.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s scores in Sri Lanka read 22, 31*, 39*, 44, and 75. Not in one game did she disappoint the fantasy players. In addition to her batting talents, she also provides breakthroughs with her part-time off-spin. In the Australia Women’s T20 League 2021, she picked up 15 wickets in 13 matches.
In the same league, Beth Mooney scored the most runs (547 runs in 14 games) and has continued the rampage ever since. She has six unbeaten scores in her last 10 white-ball games, including two fifties and as many thirties.
Tahlia McGrath has batted only four times in nine T20Is and she is yet to face failure: 42*, 44*, 91*, and 70. She is not regular with the ball, but the best figures of 3 for 26 throw enough light on her talent.
Smart Picks
Meg Lanning finished the tri-series in Ireland with the most runs: 113 runs at a strike rate of 138. Against India, she has scored 464 runs at an average of 31.
Although Shafali Verma’s T20I form has dipped of late, her overall form is inspiring enough to pick her in fantasy teams. She was the highest run-scorer (155 runs at 78) in the ODIs against Sri Lanka. Against Australia, she has the highest score of 49 off 28 in a successful chase of 174.
Pooja Vastrakar has taken 12 wickets in her last 10 competitive games, including a four-wicket haul in My11Circle Women’s T20 Challenge. With the bat, she has played heroic innings for India, rescuing them from difficult situations. Her strike rate reads 131 in the format.
Ever since the T20 Challenge, Alana King has taken 13 wickets, comprising three three-fors, in seven games. Batters have not been able to dominate her leg-spin.
Rajeshwari Gayakwad has taken 15 wickets in 10 T20Is against Australia, going wicketless only once.
Jess Jonassen has taken 19 wickets in her last 10 white-ball games. She is a handy batter too down the order, with the highest score of 47 in T20Is.
The newcomer Renuka Singh took nine wickets on the Sri Lanka tour. She is as effective at the death as she is in the powerplay.
Match Preview
Australia have won 16 of 22 T20Is against India. Since winning the T20 World Cup in 2020, Australia have won nine and lost two and India have won four and lost nine. The overall numbers favour Australia, but the renewed India won’t go down without a fight.
Time: July 29, 4:30 PM IST