India Women vs Australia Women: Will Perry Play the WACA Test?
The highly anticipated day-night Test between India Women and Australia Women, commencing March 6th at Perth’s WACA, hangs in the balance as the Aussies assess the fitness of star all-rounder Ellyse Perry. Captain Alyssa Healy has indicated a late decision will be made, with Perry continuing to be monitored closely.
Perry’s Recovery and Training
Perry participated in the T20Is but was sidelined for the ODIs due to a quad injury. She has remained with the squad, diligently undergoing rehabilitation under the team’s medical staff. Head coach Shelley Nitschke has previously reported positive progress in Perry’s recovery. Healy echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Perry’s importance to the team.
“We have a fair idea of how things might shape up. Ellyse Perry remains the main focus, and we’ll continue to monitor her situation as things progress,” Healy stated to reporters in Perth. Perry returned to full training on Wednesday, successfully combining net sessions with running exercises. Healy noted her positive outlook, but cautioned that the quad injury remains a complex issue.
“She had an excellent session yesterday, so things are looking very positive. Reports suggest it was far from a straightforward niggle, so the way she has worked her way back for this game is impressive,” Healy added. “Opportunities to play Test cricket for our women’s team don’t come around often. I’m sure she’ll be eager to get back on the field.”
Potential Replacements and Team Updates
Should Perry be unable to take the field, selectors may consider Rachel Trenaman, a rookie Tasmanian top-order batter, as a replacement. Additionally, speedster Maitlan Brown has been added to the squad, replacing Kim Garth, who sustained a quad strain. Brown returns to the national fold after a two-year absence.
Series Standing and Stakes
Australia currently leads the multi-format series 8–4, having dominated the ODIs 3–0, while India secured a 2–1 victory in the T20I leg. A Test win for India would level the series at 8–8, significantly increasing the pressure on the final clash. The outcome of this Test is therefore crucial for both teams.
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V M Suriya Narayanan is a passionate cricket writer who has been following the game since 2007.
