Australia Women vs South Africa Women Prediction: Australian Women going with plenty of bowlers

Australia Women and South Africa Women are going head to head in the 1st Match of the Test Series at Western Australian Cricket Association, East Perth, Australia on 15th Feb 2024. Australian Women will be going with plenty of bowlers in this game. Who will win this game of cricket?

Opting for a pace-heavy lineup is the recommended strategy when playing at the WACA, but this time, it may not solely revolve around pace, seam, swing, and bounce.

Anticipating sweltering heat and dry weather for most of the test, spin is expected to play a significant role. Reports indicate that the Australian team is contemplating fielding three spinners, with leggie Alana King and local favorite Ashleigh Gardner confirmed starters. The battle for the third spinner spot is likely between Jess Jonassen and the returning Sophie Molineux, who last featured in an international game for Australia in October 2021.

With left-arm pacer Lauren Cheatle ruled out, Darcie Brown is poised to take her place. She will be accompanied by fellow fast bowlers Kim Garth, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, and Tahlia McGrath.

Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield are slated to open the batting, with Ellyse Perry taking the number 3 position. The formidable middle order features Tahlia McGrath, who notched half-centuries in both innings against India in December, captain Alyssa Healy, Annabel Sutherland, and Ashleigh Gardner.

Beth Mooney, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Alyssa Healy (C, WK), Annabel Sutherland, Ash Gardner, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Kim Garth, Darcie Brown.

The Proteas women's most recent test fixture was a drawn match against England in 2022 at Taunton. Seven pivotal players from that game, including the new captain Laura Wolvaardt, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta, Anneke Bosch, Nonkululeko Mlaba, former captain Suné Luus, and star all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, will be participating in the upcoming Perth test on Thursday. Kapp played a significant role in the previous match, scoring 150 off 213 balls, single-handedly keeping the team in contention.

The upcoming test is set to feature as many as six potential debutants in the playing XI. While these newcomers may seek advice from more seasoned players on approaching red-ball cricket, the limited test experience of the senior players (having played just two tests in almost a decade) might limit the advice they can offer. The performance of these young players in the red-ball format, adapting to the challenges of four-day cricket in unfamiliar conditions far from home, remains to be seen.

The primary challenge for the team management is to assemble a well-balanced squad that combines experience and youth, enabling them to handle the pressure, make runs against a formidable bowling attack, and take twenty wickets in demanding conditions.

Laura Wolvaardt (C), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta (WK), Marizanne Kapp, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Masabata Klaas, Delmi Tucker.

The anticipated weather conditions for the upcoming test match are expected to be hot and dry, with the pitch likely to be affected by the scorching heat. If the pitch remains true to its usual characteristics, fast bowlers can exploit the pace and bounce, with the ball seaming effectively on both Day 1 and Day 2. However, as the match progresses, we anticipate the role of spin to become more significant.

The renowned Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) ground, known for providing some of the fastest and bounciest wickets in the country, will be the venue for this significant encounter. Both teams are gearing up to face each other in the challenging Test format under demanding conditions.

Although the pitch is favorable for batting in the early stages, it becomes progressively challenging with the emergence of cracks on the strip on Day 3 and Day 4 during the heatwave. Opting to bat first is considered a prudent decision at this venue, and we predict that the team winning the toss will likely choose to bat.

Australia Women possess considerable strength, displaying depth and balance with both bat and ball. It will be a formidable task to outperform their batters and outbowl their bowlers, especially in their home conditions for this format.

Our prediction leans towards Australia Women emerging as the victors in this contest.