In a side boasting some of the greatest women's cricketers of all time, it was Australia's young guns that were the match winners as they wrapped up their series win over Pakistan with one game to go
Kids are all right: Next gen shines in series win
As the Australian ODI juggernaut rolled to yet another series victory on Wednesday, one particular aspect of the back-to-back wins over Pakistan should have selectors, coaches and fans excited.
In a side featuring some of the all-time greats of the women’s game, it was Australia’s next gen getting the job done as they sealed their 21st consecutive bilateral one-day series win, extending a streak that goes back to 2013-14.
Phoebe Litchfield, coming in fresh off a player-of-the-match innings of 78 not out on Monday, backed it up with an unbeaten 67 as the hosts cruised to a 10-wicket win over their lower-ranked opponents.
It was patience and poise that underlined Litchfield’s debut as Australian opener in the first one-dayer, as she weathered tricky new-ball bowling to compile her 93-ball innings.
On Wednesday, the 19-year-old’s confidence grew with each delivery dispatched to the boundary, with her half-century coming at better than a run a ball.
In the process, she became the first Australian woman to hit back-to-back fifties to start an ODI career.
Earlier in the day, it was another 19-year-old leading the way with the ball; Darcie Brown rattled Pakistan’s top-order, returned for a second damaging spell in the middle overs and walked away with figures of 3-34.
In the process she joined elite company as just the fourth Australian to take more than 30 international wickets before the age of 20.
The other three are Craig McDermott, Ellyse Perry and Pat Cummins.
Another rising star, Annabel Sutherland, impressed with figures of 2-13 from her six overs.
As Australia’s golden generation enter the twilight years of their careers, managing the transition to the new guard while maintaining the national side’s dominance will be front of mind for selectors.
Litchfield’s chance at the top of the order came with Alyssa Healy absent through injury, and the Orange product’s performances this week are set to now create a selection conundrum for Australia’s next ODI outing against England midway through the year.
Brown and Sutherland meanwhile are increasingly important cogs in a pace attack that will eventually welcome back Tayla Vlaeminck once she recovers from her long-term foot injury.
Speaking after Wednesday’s win, Brown said the squad’s younger players felt a responsibility to carry on the standards set by the senior members of the side.
"We've got so many old heads around us –I shouldn't say old, but I guess experienced players around us – which it's really cool for Pheebs and I to learn off of," Brown said.
"They're not going to play forever and we're (going to be) the ones to carry on their legacy, so we'd better soak up as much as we can while they're still here.
"It's just amazing to be a part of this group."
Brown was full of admiration for fellow teen Litchfield, who has long been touted as the next big thing in Australian cricket and whose ascension to one-day international cricket appeared as simple as breathing across her first two innings.
"It doesn't surprise any of us at all, she's a class player and to see her do her thing is awesome," Brown said of Litchfield.
"She's a great human as well, which is even better.
"The shots that you see out there, they just look so nice and you could watch it all day."
Brown’s searing pace has been her main weapon since her debut in early 2021.
But it’s the South Australian’s evolving cricket nous that has been recently praised by fellow pace attack members Megan Schutt and Tahlia McGrath, who have worked closely with the right-armer both at domestic level and in the national side.
"She's bowling really well, she's bowling quick and her game just keeps getting better and better every year," McGrath, Brown’s captain at Adelaide Strikers, told cricket.com.au last month.
"Let's just say when Darce used to have the ball in her hand … when Schutter (Megan Schutt) was Strikers captain, Schutter would construct her over, and when I was captain last year I was sort of telling her what to do.
"But now she commands it and owns it and she's grown a lot in that space.
"She's tactically a lot better, she’s trusting her back-of-the-hand slower ball a lot more and she knows when to use that bouncer, so she's come a long way in growing and maturing as a cricketer."
Australia and Pakistan will meet in the third and final ODI at North Sydney Oval on Saturday.
CommBank ODI Series
Monday Jan 16:Australia won by eight wickets (DLS method)
Wednesday Jan 18:Allan Border Field, Brisbane 11:05am AEDT
Saturday Jan 21:North Sydney Oval, 11:05am AEDT
Buy #AUSvPAK ODI tickets here
Australia ODI squad: Meg Lanning (c), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland
Pakistan ODI squad: Bismah Maroof (c), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz, Tuba Hassan