Aussies take new look into Pakistan clash

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New Australia captain Rachael Haynes has made the ideal start to her tenure in charge of the national women's team, winning the toss and opting to bat first in the Women's World Cup clash against Pakistan in Leicester.

Regular skipper Meg Lanning was ruled out of the clash on the morning of the match – one of three changes to the side that has won their first three matches of this tournament. For Haynes, it was not just the added responsibility of the captaincy, but also her first start in this World Cup. Alex Blackwell remains as the team's vice-captain.

Leg-spinner Kristen Beams comes back into the side for Amanda-Jade Wellington in a strategic change, while Sarah Aley makes her long-awaited debut in place of new-ball quick Megan Schutt, whose workload is being managed in the long tournament.

At 33 years, one month and two days old, Aley becomes the third eldest player to make their Australia debut for the women's team. The NSW fast bowler was presented with cap No.136 by former skipper Margaret Jennings on the Grace Road outfield.

Lanning was ruled out after aggravating a chronic right shoulder injury, which the world No.1 batter has been managing. It is hoped the 25-year-old will return for Australia’s showdown with hosts England, to be played in Bristol on Sunday.

Australia XI: Bolton, Mooney, Perry, Haynes (c), Villani, Blackwell, Healy (wk), Jonassen, Gardner, Aley, Beams

Pakistan XI: Nahidi, Zafar, Iqbal, Abidi, Javed, Khokhar, Mir, Nawaz, Sundhu, Yousaf, Baig

Haynes is yet to play a game this World Cup and only returned to the Australian squad in February following a three-and-a-half-year absence, with the 30-year-old handed captaincy duties ahead of experienced vice-captain Alex Blackwell to become Australia’s 17th ODI captain.

"Meg has been undergoing rehabilitation on her right shoulder, following a chronic injury." Australian team physiotherapist Kate Mahony said.

"The decision for Meg to miss today's match will enable her to focus on some rehabilitation and we’ll continue to monitor her ahead of taking part in any further matches in the tournament."

Injury ruled Lanning out of the inaugural season of the England women’s T20 league last year, while she has been batting with a shoulder brace throughout this tournament in England.

However, this is the first time the problem has kept the Australian captain out of an international match. The last time Lanning missed an ODI for her country was in January 2012, while she missed a T20I against Sri Lanka due to illness last September.

Despite the injury, Lanning has been in fine form during Australia's World Cup title defence, posting scores of 12, 152no and 48 in three matches to date.

But with a hectic group stage that sees Australia play seven matches in the space of 20 days – with hopefully a semi-final and final to follow – ensuring the Southern Stars’ greatest weapon with the bat is available for the business stage of the tournament is the highest priority for the No.1 ranked Australians.

Haynes’ hiatus from international cricket ended in February when she was a last-minute call-up to the Australian ODI squad as injury cover for Blackwell.

She impressed in her sole one-day appearance since that recall, scoring fifty against New Zealand in Auckland, with her composed return enough to earn a 2017-18 contract offer. 

It’s that unflappable demeanor that earned Haynes, who has played three Tests, 34 ODIs and 27 T20s for Australia, her first shot at international captaincy.

But the NSW batter does have previous leadership experience at state level, leading Victoria to two titles in the Australian Women’s T20 Cup – the predecessor to the Big Bash – in 2009-10 and 2010-11 before her relocation to the Breakers for the 2011-12 summer.

“Rachael has a wealth of leadership experience including successfully guiding Victoria to back-to-back national Twenty20 titles and alongside Alex, will ensure the team is led to continue their current form,” Australian selector Shawn Flegler said.

"We know that Rachel is capable of coming in and doing the job that is asked of her as she demonstrated in New Zealand earlier this year when she scored a half-century after a lengthy absence from the national side."

It's an unusual situation when a player comes in from outside the XI to captain. Last year, England recalled spinner Danielle Hazell for her first ODI in more than six months to stand in for injured captain Heather Knight.

Australia have won all three of their group matches to date and a victory over seventh-ranked Pakistan on Thursday will move them a step closer to qualifying for the semi-finals, with three tough matches against England, India and South Africa still to come.

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Australia World Cup squad: Sarah Aley, Kristen Beams, Alex Blackwell (vc), Nicole Bolton, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning (c), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington.

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