Grace Harris has been praised for adding “another dimension” to Australia’s T20I batting line-up since her return to the squad last year as she shapes up as a key figure in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Harris, who made her international debut in 2015, was recalled for the T20 leg of the Ashes last January, but did not move into the middle order until the Commonwealth Games opener against India due to a combination of rain and Australia’s top-order dominance. . At the end of July.
With Australia needing 155 and facing defeat at 49 for 5, he turned the game around with a 20-ball 37. Harris then scored 41 not out, 27 not out and 64 not out in 35 balls for India.
The last innings saw a blistering 129 in 10.2 overs with Ashley Gardner both providing tremendous power to an excellent batting line-up.
“Grace Harris, in particular, has come into our side and added another dimension to our batting line-up,” captain Meg Lanning said ahead of the first T20 international against Pakistan in Sydney. “She can get going from the first ball and whenever she comes on she is able to put the pressure back on the opposition. To pair her with Ash Gardner, we feel like it takes the pressure off Ash in a way. It’s not like that, it just depends on him coming in and accelerating. To be honest, all our batsmen are working on that.”
Lanning will return to the T20I squad on Tuesday, having missed the tour of India while taking a break from the game. She is set to open against Pakistan alongside the prolific Beth Mooney while Alyssa Healy continues to recover from a calf strain.
“It was great to see her do it in India, and I think she will play a vital role for us in these T20s and the World Cup as well”
Lanning on Ellyse Perry
Healy is on track to be available for the World Cup in South Africa where he will return to the top order in what is shaping up to be a formidable batting line-up.
,[The Pakistan series] Lanning said it “offers opportunities for people to come in and play a slightly different role … There are so many options, sometimes it becomes a little more difficult.” Play. A lot of it will depend on the match-up and who we are coming up against.”
Ellyse Perry to play ‘key role’ in World Cup
That batting line-up can be expected to include Ellyse Perry, who has rejuvenated her T20 game in the last six months. Against India, Perry averaged 160.19 in his three innings, bringing a new gear to his role in the middle order after coming under scrutiny in recent seasons amid a plethora of batting talent being developed in the Australian game.
Lanning said, “In India she came out and played in a different way than she has in the past.” “That game has always been there for her, but now she’s confident enough to come out and dominate attacks, she can hit the ball as hard as anyone in world cricket.
“It was great to see her do it in India, and I think she’ll play a key role for us in these T20s and the World Cup as well. She can really dominate, especially against spin, so I’m excited.” ” Let’s see what kind of role she can play for us.”
Legspinner Georgia Wareham is also making her international comeback after 18 months out with an ACL injury. She only returned to the WNCL this month, but was named straight away in the World Cup squad with Lanning saying she and fellow legspinner Alana King could feature in the same XI.
“Great to see Wolfie [Wareham] She’s had a tough road over the past 18 months, but she’s a very important part of our team,” Lanning said. “She brings a lot to the field in terms of every aspect of the game.”
