Before the Event
The one-off Test between Australia Women and India Women is scheduled to begin on March 6, 2026, at Perth’s WACA Ground. This match follows a challenging ODI series for India, where they lost all three matches against Australia. The series showcased Australia’s dominance, particularly highlighted by Alyssa Healy’s impressive performance, scoring 158 runs in the third ODI.
What Changed
Australia Women secured a significant victory in the third ODI, defeating India by 185 runs. They posted a total of 409 runs, demonstrating their batting strength. In contrast, India struggled throughout the series, with Smriti Mandhana being the standout performer, climbing to the top of the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings with 790 rating points. Alana King also made headlines by becoming the No.1 bowler in the ICC Women’s ODI Bowling Rankings with 775 rating points.
Consequences
The results of the ODI series have put Australia in a strong position heading into the Test. However, they face challenges with key players. Ellyse Perry is doubtful for the Test due to a quad injury, and captain Sophie Molineux will miss the match because of a back problem. On the Indian side, Harmanpreet Kaur is ranked 9th in the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings, while Jemimah Rodrigues holds the 12th position.
Analysis
Australia’s recent success in the ODI series has set a high expectation for their performance in the upcoming Test. The inclusion of uncapped players Rachel Trenaman and Maitlan Brown indicates a strategic approach to bolster the team. Meanwhile, India will need to regroup and address their weaknesses exposed during the ODIs. Deepti Sharma remains the only Indian bowler in the top 10, ranked 10th, highlighting the need for improvement in their bowling attack.
