India Women Struggle on Day 1 vs Australia Despite Jemimah Rodrigues Fifty in Perth Test

Considering the Indian women’s team’s performances in their recent Test matches, many people expected them to do well in the one-off day-night Test against Australia in Perth. But then it was only a matter of losing the toss, and it felt like India was on the back foot throughout. After being put into bat, the visitors were bundled out for 198, while the Aussies were 96/3 at stumps on day 1.

It was a decent start for Harmanpreet Kaur and her team. At one point, India were 54/1, with Shafali Verma batting on 35. Although Smriti Mandhana did not score much, Shafali and Pratika Rawal added some runs together.

India struggle with the bat despite Jemimah’s fifty as Australia take control on Day 1

From there on, things only went downhill, as none of the batters could take the team out of a hole. Playing only her 4th Test, Jemimah Rodrigues got her fourth fifty in the format; that only goes to show she is soon becoming India’s most reliable batter. She now averages close to 60.

But then she also got out at a time when the Indians needed a partnership, leaving the team at 150-7. It just feels that Test cricket is not the best format for Harmanpreet. As it is, there aren’t many Tests in women’s cricket, and the ones where she has played, she hasn’t fared very well.

She was dismissed for 19, even though more was expected from her. So far, she has only one fifty in seven Tests and averages 24. The story of India’s batting might have been a bit different if they had not faced the tall left-arm pacer, Hamilton. The Indian batters were visibly uncomfortable with the angle the Aussie bowler created, who brought the ball back in quite consistently. She returned with figures of 3/31. Along with her, Annabel Sutherland had a field day too and bagged 4/46.

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