India v Australia: All you need to know

11 Mar 2018 Laura Jolly

The latest news from Vadodara ahead of Australia's upcoming one-day series against India

On Monday the much-anticipated ODI series between India and Australia will begin in Vadodara, when Meg Lanning returns to lead her team against an in-form home side.

For Australia, the series is a chance to wash away some of the disappointment of last year’s World Cup semi-final defeat and, hopefully, regain the ICC No.1 ranking in the process.

For India, the series is a chance to continue the momentum from their World Cup final appearance and to create history by beating Australia in a one-day series for the first time.

The fixtures

First ODI Reliance Stadium, Vadodara, March 12

Second ODI Reliance Stadium, Vadodara, March 15

Third ODI Reliance Stadium, Vadodara, March 18

The squads

Australia ODI squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

India ODI squad: Mithali Raj (Captain), Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), Smriti Mandhana, Punam Raut, Jemimah Rodrigues, Veda Krishnamurthy, Mona Meshram, Sushma Verma, Ekta Bisht, Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Shikha Pandey, Sukanya Parida, Pooja Vastrakar, Deepti Sharma

How's the Aussie preparation?

Australia played two warm-up matches against an admittedly inexperienced India A XI last week, trouncing them by 321 runs in the opening game – having amassed an enormous 8-413 – before cruising to a seven-wicket win in the second match.

Beth Mooney, who was squeezed out of the Australia ODI XI during the Ashes last October, has ensured some headaches for selectors with her warm-up century, while there were also some very promising signs from Ashleigh Gardner (90 off 44) and Meg Lanning (63 off 55).

The quicks have also shown good signs, led by Megan Schutt who captured four wickets across the two warm-up games and found plenty of movement.

There are two uncapped players in the squad – Victoria allrounder Sophie Molineux and NSW allrounder Nicola Carey. The pair, along with returning quick Belinda Vakarewa, are vying to fill the vacant bowling position in Australia’s line-up after South Australia’s Tahlia McGrath was ruled out of the tour due to injury.

Last time they met

As touched on earlier, India shocked Australia and the cricket world when they knocked the defending champions out of the World Cup semi-finals last July. That victory came largely thanks to a monster unbeaten 171 from Harmanpreet Kaur. Australia opener Nicole Bolton admitted the defeat “still burns” on Friday and you can expect the tourists to be desperate to avenge the defeat.

Australia have never lost a bilateral ODI series to India, however, and have won 34 of the 43 50-overs contests between the teams.

Form Guide

Australia haven’t played an ODI since the 50-over portion of the multi-format Ashes last October, where they beat England 2-1. The Southern Stars went on to retain the Ashes, with points level on eight apiece at the end of the final T20I, but Australia believe they should have walked away outright winners and are determined to lock this series safely away. In the months since their players have been involved in the Rebel Women’s Big Bash League, with strong form from both the batters and bowlers setting the Australians up nicely for limited-overs internationals.

India enjoyed a prolonged break from international cricket after the World Cup last July and only came together again in February, when they travelled to South Africa to take on the Proteas in both limited-overs formats. There, they walked away 2-1 ODI series winners before taking out the T20I series 3-1. One concern for the hosts is the absence of their greatest ever fast bowler, Jhulan Goswami, who starred during the ODIs against South Africa but who has since been ruled out of this series due to a heel injury.

Key Players

Meg Lanning is back after spending seven months on the sidelines recovering from shoulder surgery. The Australian captain looked rusty in her first competitive knock since the operation against India A last Tuesday, but she found her groove in the second warm-up match, striking an impressive 63. Her return will be a big boost for the tourists, who have pledged to take a more fearless approach to their batting.

Harmanpreet Kaur is the big-hitting allrounder who single-handedly destroyed Australia’s bowling attack during the World Cup semi-final and she will be eager to dish out more of the same treatment on her home soil. Her Sydney Thunder teammates know better than anyone what she is capable of and how she ticks, so expect Australia to have a few news plans for the 29-year-old this time around.

The ODI Championship

ICC Women’s Championship points will be on offer in the three-match ODI series. Running every four years, the Championship determines which three teams, alongside hosts New Zealand, gain automatic qualification for the 2021 World Cup.

After the first round of matches (out of seven), Australia and India both sit on four points, having each claimed 2-1 series wins against England and South Africa respectively.

How to Watch

Viewers in Australia fortunate enough to have a subscription to Fox Sports will be able to watch the ODI series live on Foxtel. There will be no free-to-air broadcast with the BCCI selling the Australian broadcast rights to Fox Sports.

For those who can’t watch, you will be able to follow the live scores on cricket.com.au and the Cricket Australia Live App.

Cricket.com.au will also be producing highlights, reports and behind-the-scenes content throughout the series, and keep an eye on the Southern Stars Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts for exclusive insights into life on tour with the Australian team.

Commonwealth Bank Tour of India

Australia T20 squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Naomi Stalenberg, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

England T20I squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Kate Cross, Alice Davidson-Richards, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Katie George, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Amy Jones, Anya Shrubsole, Bryony Smith, Nat Sciver, Fran Wilson, Danni Wyatt

Warm-up match Australia beat India A by 321 runs. Report

Warm-up match Australia beat India A by seven wickets. Report

ODI series

First ODI Reliance Stadium, Vadodara, March 12

Second ODI Reliance Stadium, Vadodara, March 15

Third ODI Reliance Stadium, Vadodara, March 18

T20I tri-series

First T20I Australia v India, Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, March 22

Second T20I Australia v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 23

Third T20I India v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 25

Fourth T20I Australia v India, Brabourne Stadium, March 26

Fifth T20I Australia v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 28

Sixth T20I India v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 29

Final Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, March 31