Key occasions
1st over: India 6-0 (Verma 1, Mandhana 5) Bell is full and straight and searching for swing. Verma will get off the mark with a bunt down the bottom earlier than Verma lotions a drive previous the bowler for 4, displaying off the bat maker’s emblem as she does so. Verma firmly drives once more nevertheless it’s half-stopped at mid-off so that they scamper via for a single. Bell adjusts her size and will get away with the half-tracker as Verma fluffs the pull straight to mid-on. Verma then nails the ultimate ball on the drive however clatters the stumps on the non-striker’s finish.
Lauren Bell has the ball in her fingers.
After a brief second of silence remembering the victims of the Air India 171 crash, we’re able to go.
“The pitch will stay good,” says Ravi Shastri. Let’s get cracking!
Charlotte Edwards was chatting the BBC Radio earlier:
There’s an actual pleasure round this sequence for us. An enormous alternative to play at some larger grounds and take a look at ourselves in opposition to probably the greatest groups on this planet.
That is going to be a harder take a look at for us [than West Indies]. This India batting line-up supplies us with a chance to show a few of our younger bowlers and a brand new bowling group in some ways. It provides us a chance to have a look at choices.
I believe the beauty of this group is we’re studying on a regular basis
Right here’s the official line from the BCCI on Harmanpreet’s harm:
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur has been rested for the primary T20I in opposition to England Ladies in Nottingham as a precautionary measure following a head harm [not a hand injury as I reported earlier] sustained throughout the T20 Heat-up match in opposition to ECB Choose XI. She’s being carefully monitored by the medical group and is recovering nicely. Smriti Mandhana is main the facet in her absence”
No Charlie Dean. Hmmm. Is {that a} mossed trick? Positive, circumstances in India are completely different to Nottingham – one of many higher decks within the UK – however I’d be getting miles within the arms of all spinners forward of a World Cup on the sub continent. Additionally, Dean v Mandhana looks as if match-up I’d need if I have been an England captain.
Groups
Tammy Beaumont and Sophie Ecclestone return. Two huge gamers. Flier and Bell will tear in with seam and swing.
As anticipated Shafali Verma makes her means again to the highest of India’s order. Harampreet is out with a head harm. Shree Charani, the left arm finger spinner, makes her debut
England: Dunkley, Wyatt-Hodge, Sciver-Brunt (c), Beaumont, Jones (wk), Capsey, Arlott, Ecclestone, Flier, Smith, Bell.
India: Mandhana (c), Verma, Deol, Rodrigues, Kaur, Ghosh (wk), Sharma, Yadav, Reddy, Rana, Shree Charani
England win the toss and bowl
A shouting Ravi Shastri will get us underway as Nat Sciver-Brunt opts for a chase.
She’s going with a ‘pretty heavy tempo assault’. Juicy.
She says that deciding on the facet was “very tough”.
Smriti Mandhana would have bowled first as nicely. Time for India to get issues so as with a house World Cup across the nook.
Toss in a couple of minutes. Huge query if Sophie Ecclestone will slot straight again into the facet after a break. For my cash she’s the perfect white ball bowler on this planet. And is a kind of uncommon energy hitters who can tonk sixes from the phrase go. She merely has to play if she’s match and in the appropriate head area.
How nice is that this?! Something that makes this stunning sport extra accessible in any means will get a lift on the OBO:
We’ve already been handled to an England v India epic this summer season.
I like it males’s and girls’s excursions coincide with each other. It provides to the intrigue, narrative and bragging rights.
Not that this match serves as a facet quest however value a refresh on that cracking Take a look at at Headinlgey:
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
Charlotte Edwards’ tenure as England coach has obtained off to an ideal begin, profitable all six matches in opposition to the West Indies throughout.
It may be too early to connect a suffix to this group (Chazball possibly?) however a 100% report is a 100% report. After the Ashes thumping, it’s job accomplished thus far.
India will present a sterner take a look at. The third-ranked group in each ODIs and T20Is have a clutch of star batters together with the returning 21-year-old Shafali Verma who makes a comeback after falling out of favour throughout India’s sorry T20 World Cup marketing campaign final yr.
Their bowling shares aren’t as nicely equipped and we might see a few new faces throughout the tour.
England will begin as favourites on dwelling soil however will know a slip within the opening recreation will open outdated wounds. Edwards and her skipper, Nat Sciver-Brunt, will wish to lay down a marker early doorways.
Will they proceed to fly the flag of Chazball (I’m doubling down on the moniker), or will they slide again in opposition to respectable opposition?
We’ll discover out collectively.
Play begins at 2:30pm.
Toss and groups and different bits to come back til then.
For those who’d wish to get in contact, drop me a line.
