King’s match-swinging impact a fitting tribute to hero

On a day that shocked Australian cricket, it was fitting that a Victorian leg-spinner created one of the match-turning moments that helped set-up a thrilling World Cup victory over England.

Alana King, playing in her first World Cup match, finished with a three-wicket haul that included a superb delivery that drifted, dipped and deceived England opener Tammy Beaumont.

It resulted in a stumping that changed the momentum of the game and prompted King to emphatically slap the twin black armbands on her sleeve.

King was 11 years old when she sat in the stands at the MCG and watched the great, late Shane Warne take his 700th Test cricket in 2006, and it was his genius that inspired her – alongside an entire generation of future leg-spinners – to take up the craft.

"I didn't realise what I was getting myself into, leg-spin's a pretty hard task," King told cricket.com.au following Saturday's 12-run win in Hamilton, revealing her shock and sadness at learning the news of his sudden death when she woke up that morning.

"I think he's inspired not just me, but plenty of players all around the world to do the great stuff that we do.

"There was a bit of an empty feeling this morning when I woke up. I was a bit of disbelief, to be honest.

"I took some time to read the news and go through all the tributes that have been paid to him."

While their paths at Melbourne Stars and Victoria never crossed to the extent King would have liked, several clinics with Warne during her early playing days provided lifelong memories.

"I was probably just too starstruck to be quite honest, that he was just down the other end sharing a few tips - things I'll remember for a long time," she said.

"He's definitely been a big influence, just even his commentary that I listened to ... he was just a great thinker of the game and I've tried to learn from that.

"He was a big competitor. He never gave in and he was always fighting to the end and I hope that I've instilled a little bit of that and I'll never give up when I'm bowling."

Speaking before the game, an emotional Alyssa Healy said on broadcast the team hoped to provide some solace to those doing it tough, acknowledging the events of the past several weeks – not just the tragic loss of Warne and fellow great Rod Marsh in the last 48 hours, but more broadly both in Australia and globally – had provided perspective.

Vice-captain Rachael Haynes reinforced that sentiment after the match.

"We woke up to the news and it was really shocking," Haynes said. "We've known that Rod Marsh had passed away, then to wake up this morning and hear that a legend of the game in Shane Warne had passed away, it was just utter shock within the group.

"Alyssa Healy and I were chatting before the game, just sitting in the changerooms saying life is really fragile.

"We think a tournament like is pretty significant ... but it just reinforced to us (we should) go out there and actually enjoy today and enjoy the game because it's just really sad that things can be taken away so quickly."

Australia will travel to Tauranga on Sunday, ahead of Tuesday's match against Pakistan at Bay Oval.

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: Australia def England by 12 runs

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