Kristen beaming at spin dominance

Spin has been a dominant force in Australia’s assault on the Women’s World Cup and the leader of the spin brigade, leggie Kristen Beams, has been thrilled with the role the Aussie tweakers have played so far in the campaign.

Australia have played all of Beams, Ash Gardner and Jess Jonassen in the same line-up in five of their seven matches so far in the tournament, while 20-year-old legspinner Amanda-Jade Wellington stepped in for Beams for the match against New Zealand a fortnight ago.

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Australia's spinners, including part-time bowler Nicole Bolton, have taken more than half (54 per cent) of the wickets in this World Cup so far, compared to just 29 per cent in the 2013 edition of the tournament on the traditionally spin-friendly wickets of India.

"It’s nice to see so many spinners in the side," she said.

"I think the wickets have suited the spinners a bit more and usually over here there is a bit in it for the quicks, but it has probably suited the spinners.

"We’ve continued to build and we speak about building pressure as a bowling group and I think we’ve been able to do that pretty well so far in this tournament.

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"So it’ll just be about continuing that for the semi-final (against India on Thursday)."

Australia's reliance on spin has been reflected by the other teams in the tournament as well; five of the top six leading bowlers are spinners, with Beams and left-arm orthodox bowler Jonassen occupying two of those spots.

And with the impressive Wellington sitting on the sidelines, she says she's just happy to hold her place in the side.

"On different days against different opposition, three pace bowlers would be just as good (as three spinners)," she said.

"At the moment we’ve been lucky, for me it’s been like holding on for dear life for that spot in the side and I’ll keep trying to hold onto it.

"I still think people love seeing bowlers come in and bowl quick and seeing bouncers from Ellyse Perry, so I don’t think spin is taking over the world just yet."

Having played four of their seven pool matches in Bristol, Australia have travelled to Derby to face India in their knockout semi-final at the Country Ground on Thursday.

It's the first time Australia have played at the venue in this tournament, while India have the advantage of having played there four times in the group stage.

"It’s nice to have a change," Beams said.

"We’ve enjoyed our time in Bristol and we’re looking forward to seeing what the conditions hold.

"No matter what the conditions are we have a really versatile and diverse group that will tackle it."

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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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