Women's T20I Tri-series: Australia's depth and versatility helped them to title victory and dominance over England, India

Before the final of the women’s tri-series , it seemed like England’s world record chase where they made 199 to win the game would be the apogee of the tournament. But far from an Australian team to let the Poms walk away with the glory. The Australians posted the highest T20I score ever made when they scored 209 for 4 in the tournament final, which handed them a colossal 57-run victory.

“We want to keep pushing the game forward," is a phrase that Meg Lanning used a lot in her press conferences. She was certainly setting the example herself. After squandering three starts in the ODIs against India, Lanning went four innings without being dismissed in the tournament, capped off by an unbeaten 88 off just 45 balls in the final.

At the Brabourne Stadium, the same ground where they won the World Cup in 2013, Australia won their first T20I series since 2015, and in turn made a statement. In a week where ‘the Australian way’ has come under heavy fire , the Australian national women’s team showed that ruthless wins can be achieved without a “pack of dogs” mentality, against two teams they had scores to settle with.

One of the features of Australia’s success was their domination of the powerplay, and their deliberate attempts to maixmise it. “We definitely want to target the powerplay," said Rachael Haynes, Australian vice-captain. “Especially in these conditions (pitches and an outfield so flat and fast that they could host Formula One), we’ve got some players who can clear the infield with ease. We want to see how far we can push it. It’s definitely an area where we think we can get an edge.”

Every cricketer has played the odd net session in which the bowlers bat first, then the middle order and then the openers. Australia made it the norm, just not to that extent. They used their power-hitters, who usually bat lower down in ODIs, at the top. Beth Mooney opened alongside the swishing Alyssa Healy, followed by the muscle of Ashleigh Gardener and the bustle of Elyse Villani. Lanning and Ellyse Perry, perhaps the best two batswomen in the world, were batting at five and six.

With the ball, their biggest asset was variety in pace. Here was Perry, steaming in, rocking back and banging in her short balls and yorkers, there was Delissa Kimmince, changing the pace, with slower balls more deceptive than the Australian men’s team.

In between was Megan Schutt, miserly with her run-up and runs given, but not with inswing. Schutt finished as the highest wicket-taker and Player of the Series, with nine wickets. Her economy rate of 6.28, in a tournament that saw records tumble in the batting department, was astonishing. Clearly the Australian bowlers had adapted to the new fielding restrictions better. Not surprising considering they have played with these same rules in the last two WBBLs.

But as England coach Mark Robinson said after the final, the series was about the big players, and this is what set Australia apart from India and England: Australia have so many of them. If Healy didn’t click, Mooney did. When Lanning didn’t play (she was rested for Australia’s third game) the stand-in skipper Haynes stood up. Lanning herself scored 175 runs in four digs. Three of the top-five wicket-takers were Australian, despite their attack having no real unplayable bowler.

England’s team was missing a few key players, and India had some who didn’t contribute, and this affected them. But Australia provided a demonstration of depth; they win tournaments with their domestic cricket.

The tour to India was about unfinished business for Australia. They had lost the T20I leg of the Women’s Ashes to England 2-1. And the last time they faced India was in the semi-final of a World Cup that had their names on it. The words ‘revenge’ and ‘payback’ mattered to them, as well as the World No 1 ranking, which they reclaimed.

“When we put together the idea of the tri-series, it was an amazing opportunity  play India in India, that’s as tough as it gets for an Australian team,” said Mathew Mott, the Australian coach, shortly after Australia arrived. “Then also to play England over here who are holding on to World No 1 by a hair;  we were disappointed we weren’t able to finish them off in the Ashes.”

Australia pushed the envelope in this tour, but the moment they would be most remembered for brought them no advantage. In the final, England’s Amy Jones seemed to be struggling for a run out. Healy collected an expert Perry throw from the deep, only to dislodge the bail before the ball reached her. Few noticed the infraction, not least Perry, but Healy did not appeal for the run-out. Coming days after a leading cricket commentator had criticised the Aussie women for their lack of sportsmanship, it was exactly the kind of cricket that the game needed.

The author is a former India cricketer, and now a freelance journalist and broadcaster. She hosts the YouTube Channel, ‘ Cricket With Snehal ’, and tweets @SnehalPradhan