The Cricketer runs down the who, what, where, when, why, which channel and how wet it will be ahead of the tri-series
Australia, England and India are taking part in a tri-series ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup, which begins on February 21.
In essence, it is a competition stretching over the next fortnight, the end of which will bring the three teams to within nine days of the start of the main tournament.
FIRST T20I: India v England, Manuka Oval (Friday, January 31, 2.10pm local time, 3.10am GMT)
SECOND T20I: Australia v England, Manuka Oval (Saturday, February 1, 2pm local time, 3am GMT)
THIRD T20I: Australia v India, Manuka Oval (Sunday, February 2, 2pm local time, 3am GMT)
FOURTH T20I: India v England, Junction Oval (Friday, February 7, 2.10pm local time, 3.10am GMT)
FIFTH T20I: Australia v India, Junction Oval (Saturday, February 8, 12.10pm local time, 1.10am GMT)
SIXTH T20I: Australia v England, Junction Oval (Sunday, February 9, 2.10pm local time, 3.10am GMT)
FINAL: Junction Oval (Wednesday, February 12, 1.40pm local time, 2.40am GMT)
In truth, all three teams involved would happily perform poorly here if it meant saving their A-games for the T20 World Cup. This is a mere warm-up and it just so happens to feature some of the world’s best players.
Australian allrounder Ashleigh Gardner is a doubt for the start of the tri-series as she recovers from a concussion she suffered after being struck on the back of the neck during a training session. A vital part of Meg Lanning’s side with both bat and ball, she will not be risked unless fully fit ahead of a huge month on home soil for Australian cricket.
Lanning’s side will go in as favourites as they tend to nowadays. England won the last meeting between the two sides but lost the Women’s Ashes. India, meanwhile, arrive with a batting line-up full of youthful exuberance; 16-year-old Shafali Verma will face England for the first time, while Jemimah Rodrigues, Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur make up a formidable top order.
It is hard to know quite how much we will learn from a series that will be played amid a backdrop of smoke and poor air quality – the result of nearby bushfires in Canberra. No risks will be taken with the players with a World Cup around the corner.
Meg Lanning's side will be favourites to win the T20 World Cup
Australia: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Erin Burns, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy (wk), Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham
England: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones (wk), Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Lauren Winfield, Fran Wilson, Danni Wyatt, Mady Villiers
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodriguez, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Veda Krishnamurthy, Richa Ghosh, Tania Bhatia, Poonam Yadav, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gaikwad, Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy
It is forecast to be mightily hot in Canberra, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees for Friday’s first game between England and India. The ICC match referee present will determine whether play is to be suspended at any point due to visibility concerns or, indeed, due to poor air quality.
In England, the series will be broadcast live on BT Sport, while there is radio coverage of every game on 5 Live Sports Extra.
In Australia, all matches will be broadcast on the Seven Network and Fox Cricket, with live streams on Kayo and the CA Live app. There will be radio coverage on ABC Grandstand.
In India, the series will be shown on Sony ESPN and Sony SIX channels.
Dafabet have England 10/7 to win the opening T20, with India at 21/20.