*AUSTRALIA WOMEN VS IRELAND WOMEN 2nd ODI IN A 3 MATCH ODI SERIES 2023 PREVIEW*
*THE BUILD UP:*
Rain washouts have to be the most annoying feature of cricket and while the first ODI got abandoned without a bowl being bowled, the series still has plenty to offer with two more games remaining. It still gives Ireland the opportunity to brush alongside the greats of the game and for Australia to recover themselves after a disappointing ODI series loss to England, who were out of the world in terms of how they played their cricket last week. The situation remains the same, the only difference being the number of matches in this series has been cut short and reduced to simply two and with rain playing with merriment, the pacers could be aided in their quest to strike gold come the second ODI. The stadium and the surface for this ODI is scheduled to be the same one and we can’t wait to see how these two teams lineup in Ireland.
*AUS W PROBABLE XI:*
Phoebe Litchfield, Alyssa Healy(c)(wk), Elyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath(vc), Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Wareham, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Darcie Brown
The quartet of Sutherland-Darcie Brown-Perry-Tahlia Mcgrath will form the pace bowling group for Australia this series and we would be seeing them among the leading wicket takers as well. The conditions in Ireland are bound to be friendly to the fast bowlers and even more so with rain now and the experience of Perry and Tahlia Mcgrath would be absolutely crucial to their chances.
Healy would be eager to lead her side to a whitewash after a recent humiliation that the side faced in the absence of Lanning. Even though Ireland are far away from being a powerhouse, the confidence that the keeper batter as a skipper would gain would be immense. Her batting has also been under the pump, an aspect which she’d like to reverse come this series and the first game. However, batting in conditions where the ball could swing a mile will be a challenge.
Elyse Perry is a superstar of the game. She is a clutch player and fits every bill for a utility cricketer. Her value with both facets of the game makes her a big threat to Ireland who have a golden chance this time to shock the visitors. With the first game already ended in a washout, she has enough rest and is most likely to turn up for these two games overseas.
*IRE W PROBABLE XI:*
Leah Paul, Laura Delany (c), Amy Hunter, Gaby Lewis, Mary Waldron, Rebecca Stokell, Ava Canning, Cara Murray, Arlene Kelly, Jane McGuire, Orla Prendergast
Jane McGuire, the impressive 20 year old is joining the team after an injury and with the excitement she brings to the squad alongside Mary Wauldron is, in my opinion, going to keep Australia on the toes. The latter has the experience of playing with Australians with the representation in the Aussie Domestic Leagues and we could see her use it here in a bid for Ireland to try and achieve something historic.
Laura Delany would be expected to lead from the front with her positive batting approach and give the teams some good starts and also arrest collapses which are likely to arise against this strong Aussie bowling lineup. Alongside her, I’m super excited to see how Orla Prendergast goes about her job with both bat and bowl. She has an inspiring figure in the form of Perry in the opposition and she could learn alot from how she makes the other teams pay.
*MY PREDICTIONS:*
*FOR AUS:*
Highest run getter- Alyssa Healy/Elyse Perry
Highest wicket taker- Jess Jonassen/Darcie Brown
*FOR IRE:*
Highest run getter- Laura Delany/Gaby Lewis
Highest wicket taker- Orla Prendergast
*FOR THE GAME:*
Australia to win