Innovator Blackwell switches up game plan

Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars vice-captain Alex Blackwell is a master of invention, but she's planning on a different sort of innovation for Sunday's World T20 final in Kolkata.

The Southern Stars player most likely to pull out a trick shot, Blackwell says she'll be focusing on practising the conventional shots as she prepares to battle the West Indies at Eden Gardens.

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"My job really is to have impact in the middle order to upset the opposition bowlers," Blackwell said ahead of Australian training on Friday.

"I do bat a little differently to the rest of our team, I like to be a 360-degree player.

"But sometimes in these conditions (in India), with the pace off, I don't get to play the behind-the-square shots as often.

"So in my training leading up to this match I'm going to be looking at practising some good cricket shots in front of the wicket and looking to turn ones into twos."

Blackwell attracted attention for her unconventional approach against England in Wednesday's semi-final, standing outside off-stump when facing medium-pacer Natalie Sciver.

It drew comparisons to Australia skipper Steve Smith, who scored a spectacular boundary off Wahab Riaz against Pakistan last week as he stood far outside off stump, almost moving  off the pitch as he reached for a wide ball.

However, 32-year-old Blackwell was quick to point out on Thursday the move was hardly a new trick.

"I've tried to show a few more interesting shots this tournament," she said. "I think one was described as a Steve Smith shot, but I'm sure I've been doing that a little longer than he has.

"I've got a few years on him."

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While Blackwell's role in recent matches has been limited with Australia chasing low totals against Sri Lanka and Ireland, her experience has been crucial when the going has not been so easy in India.

With the Southern Stars 3-9 in their opening match against South Africa in Nagpur, Blackwell weathered the storm and scored a match-winning 42no, while she also remained calm when her team were 4-4 against New Zealand.

It's the sort of back-to-the-wall situation she thrives in and Blackwell said she had been carefully watching two masters of the middle order – India pair Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni – as she looks to perfect the art of powering Australia through the later stages of an innings.

"I gain inspiration from the way they've approached the middle order," she said. "That's my job, to make sure we turn ones into twos and put pressure on the outfielders.

"It's not always about clearing the rope, that’s not my game. Yes, I'm a boundary player, but I score a lot more fours than sixes. But it's also about doubling up and running hard."