Unflappable Carey takes sticky situation in her stride

As far as maiden ODI World Cup campaigns go, Nicola Carey's got off to a less-than-ideal start on Sunday, when she was a late arrival to the team warm-up ahead of Australia's practice match against West Indies.

The allrounder had not slept through her alarm or missed the bus, however; she was at the ground in Christchurch – she just happened to be trapped in a toilet.

The new dressing rooms at Lincoln Green had only been completed a day earlier, and Carey was the unlucky victim of a sticky lock.

Fortunately for the 28-year-old, the Australian team manager heard her call out for help, and 20 minutes (and one failed attempt to pry the lock open with a butter knife) later, a key was procured and she was set free.

Unfazed, Carey belatedly joined in the warm-up and later bowled seven overs, leaking just 19 runs, as Australia cruised to a 90-run victory.

Her unflappable approach to life served her well on Sunday, and is set to do so throughout the tournament, with the Tasmania allrounder likely to one of several pace bowling allrounders who could rotate in and out of the Australia XI throughout the tournament.

After carrying drinks in the first Ashes ODI in Canberra, Carey was called in for the final two one-dayers in Melbourne as Darcie Brown and Beth Mooney were rested due to minor injury concerns.

"It's a ridiculous side at the minute and it's pretty hard to crack into this team," Carey said following Australia's training session in Christchurch on Monday.

"There's some outstanding allrounders as we've seen with Tahlia McGrath and Annabel Sutherland yesterday with the bat, she was amazing, and she has been really solid with the ball as well.

"It's incredibly tough to get into this XI and I guess I just have to take my opportunities when they come, whether it be in a warm up game, or (later in the tournament) ... if I get an opportunity to play, I'll certainly take it with both hands."

Conditions will also play a significant role in determining how many games Carey plays this tournament; while fresh, green surfaces are more likely to favour the taller, quicker pace bowlers, her crafty change-ups and stump-to-stump bowling could prove handy on wearing pitches.

"There's probably going to be a lot of traffic on these wickets, so many games get played in this tournament," Carey said.

"That could work in my favour, and stump-to-stump bowling on those lower, slower pitches can be a really useful thing."

Australia will play hosts New Zealand in their second and final warm-up match at Lincoln's Bert Sutcliffe Oval.

The White Ferns suffered a surprise practice match defeat to Pakistan on Sunday but have been in red-hot form of late having defeated India 4-1 in an ODI series in Queenstown.

Amelia Kerr did not bat in the warm-up against Pakistan, but after a breakout series at No.3 against India, where she scored 353 runs in five innings, including one century and three fifties, the leg-spinning allrounder is likely to pose a significant challenge for the Australian attack on Tuesday.

"I'm expecting a good challenge," Carey said. "They dominated that series against India, who are a world-class opponent.

"We've always known that (Kerr) can bat, we've seen her a fair bit in the Big Bash – now for New Zealand, she's batting a little bit higher, so a bit more exposure at the top of the order, and she's done a really good job for them.

"No doubt we'll be looking over some of that footage and see what we can do with that."

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington. Travelling reserves: Heather Graham, Georgia Redmayne

Australia's World Cup 2022 fixtures

Mar 5: v England, Seddon Park, Hamilton, 12pm AEDT

Mar 8: v Pakistan, Bay Oval, Tauranga, 12pm AEDT

Mar 13: v New Zealand, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 15: v West Indies, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 19: v India, Eden Park, Auckland, 12pm AEDT

Mar 22: v South Africa, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 25: v Bangladesh, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

Semi-finals

Mar 30: Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 31: Hagley Park Christchurch, 12pm AEDT

Final

Apr 3: Hagley Park Christchurch, 11am AEDT

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports