Aussies vow to maintain aggression

Rachael Haynes doesn't want to see Australia shy away from their aggressive approach to batting in the ongoing T20 tri-series despite a heavy defeat to England on Friday.

On a good batting wicket with a lightning-fast outfield, Australia were restricted to 8-149 by the English bowlers, who ran down the target with three overs to spare.

Haynes, standing in for Australia captain Meg Lanning who was rested as she continues to manage her recovery from shoulder surgery, played a long hand of 65 (45) as the middle and lower order fell around her.

Despite boasting an XI containing No.11 Megan Schutt as the sole specialist bowler, Australia's deep batting order failed to fire.

After positives starts from opener Alyssa Healy (35) and first drop Ashleigh Gardner (28), Haynes was the only other batter to pass double figures as Elyse Villani (5), Ellyse Perry (2), Sophie Molineux (6) and Delissa Kimmince (1) all fell cheaply.

The highest partnership managed by the Australians was 33 runs – in stark contrast, England's unbeaten 116-run stand between Tammy Beaumont and Natalie Sciver ensured the comfortable victory.

"It seemed like whenever someone got going, they'd go out," Haynes said after play.

"That happened a couple of times throughout our innings, but what we don't want to lose is our intent.

"We've spoken about the style of play we want to consistently produce in this format, so I hope just because it didn't quite come off today we don't curb that and go back into our shell."

Australia had spoken in the lead-up to the series about the need to bat with freedom and back themselves and it reflected as each batter came out looking to immediately attack.

And while Haynes wants to see that aggressive approach continue, she conceded that needed to be balanced with partnership building.

"We want to have good intent in this format of the game and our batting line-up is very strong, so we don't want to leave anything sitting on the bench – but you do still have to be smart about that," Haynes said.

"Partnerships are still very important in this format of the game as well, so there are probably just a few things from that side of it we'd probably change a little bit.

"But aside from that, I thought our intent was pretty good."

Haynes also conceded there was work to do with the ball, after Australia captured just two English wickets and struggled to contain the aggressive Sciver and Beaumont.

"We didn't give our bowlers a lot of margin for error with that score on the board, but we did at times give too much width and got a little bit short as well," she said.

"We were just a bit off today with bat and ball and unfortunately on this ground it's very unforgiving, you can't miss too often or you'll get punished."

The condensed nature of the T20I tri-series meant Australia played back-to-back matches on Thursday and Friday.

It was the reason Lanning was rested, while it's also something each team will do once throughout the seven-game tournament, with Haynes reluctant to lay too much blame at the feet of the packed schedule.

"(Back-to-back games) is something we don't do a lot of in international cricket, we do it domestically though so the players are used to it," Haynes said.

"That said, we are coming off an ODI series as well where we had three games in a week and then to come here and play back to back.

"So maybe from scheduling point of view it's not ideal, but it is something the players are used to."

Australia have a two-day break before their next game, against India on Monday, with Lanning expected to return to lead her side.

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

India T20I squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Mithali Raj, Veda Krishnamurthy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Anuja Patil, Deepti Sharma, Taniya Bhatia (wicket-keeper), Poonam Yadav, Ekta Bisht, Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar, Rumeli Dhar, Mona Meshram.

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 Australia won by eight wickets. Scorecard

Second ODI Australia won by 60 runs. Scorecard

Third ODI Australia won by 97 runs. Scorecard

T20I tri-series

First T20I Australia defeated India by six wickets. Scorecard

Second T20I England defeated Australia by eight wickets. Scorecard

Third T20I India v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 25. Live Coverage

Fourth T20I Australia v India, Brabourne Stadium, March 26. Live Coverage

Fifth T20I Australia v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 28. Live Coverage

Sixth T20I India v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 29. Live Coverage

Final Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, March 31. Live Coverage