After winning the Women’s Ashes with a dominating performance in the second ODI, Australia will host England once again at the Junction Oval in Melbourne for the third ODI. This will be the final match of a long tour for the England Women, and they will love to finish with a win, despite this being a dead rubber.
Australian captain Meg Lanning will be pleased with her team’s performance, and will be confident about the team ahead of the upcoming World Cup. Even the out-of-form Ellyse Perry produced a Player-of-the-Match-winning performance in the last match as she shone with both ball and bat. Rachael Haynes, Beth Mooney and Alyssa Healy are also in great touch.
Australia's excellent all-rounders provide excellent balance to the team. Tahlia McGrath has the potential to become the most valuable player in the World Cup. Ash Gardner and Perry are the two experienced all-rounders in the team. Jesse Jonassen and Alana King, the spinners, have bowled well. However, with the Ashes in bag, the Australians can go for a few experiments in the last match.
England captain Heather Knight will be upset about her team’s batting. Lauren Winfield-Hill has been in ordinary form for some time, resulting in the team losing early wicket more often than not. Even Knight and Nat Sciver need support from the other middle order batters like Amy Jones.
Their bowling looks better, but with Katherine Brunt nearing retirement and both Anya Shrubsole and Kate Cross in their thirties, they will expect younger bowlers to make a mark. They are likely to bring in fringe players like Freya Davies and Tash Farrant in this match. Brunt, who had missed the second ODI, may miss this one as well.
Likely XIs
Australia Women: Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy (wk), Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Ash Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Megan Schutt
England Women: Lauren Winfield, Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight (c), Nat Sciver, Amy Jones (wk), Sophia Dunkley, Danni Wyatt, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Anya Shrubsole, Kate Cross
Fantasy XI
Alyssa Healy, Heather Knight, Danni Wyatt, Rachael Haynes, Ellyse Perry (vc), Nat Sciver, Tahlia McGrath (c), Ash Gardner, Anya Shrubsole, Megan Schutt, Kate Cross
Fantasy tips
- Perry, McGrath, and Gardner will be trusted with both bat and ball. They should be important fantasy picks.
- With both Brunt and Brown unavailable, the experienced Schutt and Shrubsole will have key roles to play.