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ENG W vs IND W | 3rd ODI: With nothing to lose, India Women look to be brave and fearless

Abhishek Singh

The Indian women's team did improve a bit in terms of their approach towards the ODI game in the second of the three-match series against England Women but still ended up losing the match, courtesy of some brilliant character shown by young Sophia Dunkley with the bat. She was the prime reason behind Indian eves getting robbed of a potential victory, mainly owed to them by their bowlers. 

While the bowling did improve a bit, it is the batting that is slacking and continued to do so in the second game as well. Necessary changes were made with Jemimah Rodriguez taking Punam Raut’s place at the top of the order and Sneh Rana coming in for Pooja Vatsrakar. However, what didn’t go well was another Indian collapse in the middle order after a relatively better top-order performance. 

Asking for too many changes could be a problem, but this Indian team could really afford to be a bit realistic in the sense that it has already lost the series. Punam Raut as a batter is way better and can be the real anchor. Though unproven at that role, there is no harm trying her out in that sort of a position. If the move pays off, it could open new avenues for India. 

However, India can really do with her at number three instead of Jemimah because of two things mainly. First, she has an impressive record and was carrying form on this England tour. Secondly, Rodriguez, who was fitted into her place, really doesn’t solve the jigsaw puzzle in the sense that she is out of form and hence equally slow, if not more. 

The only way India seem to solve this problem is by either taking Raut to open with Shafali Verma and playing Smriti Mandhana at three to keep up the tempo or by involving young Indrani Roy as the wicket-keeper batter in the team and playing her at number three or opener and removing Raut altogether from the setup. Whether or not India tries that combination is a thing of deliberation. 

As far as the English unit is concerned, it is running like a well-oiled machine with somebody or the other raising its hand to deliver in the moment of crisis. Be it Tammy Beaumont and Nat Sciver in the first game or Dunkley and Katharine Brunt in the second. However, now since the series is won, England could really afford to give the reserve players a chance. 

England Women vs India Women: Match Details

Match Number- 3rd ODI

Date and Time: 03 July 2021, 03:30 pm IST, 09:30 am GMT, 10:30 am Local

Venue: New Road, Worcester

Broadcast and Live Stream in India: Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV

Pitch Report

As of now, only five Women ODIs have been played on this ground, the latest of which was played in 2019. In those five games, the team batting first have won four games, giving a fair bit of idea about the nature of the wicket. The home ground of Worcester county is known to slow down as the game progresses. The average first inning score of 203 also suggests that it is tough to score runs on this ground. The average second innings score is just 175. 

Weather Forecast and Toss

The weather forecast of Worcester might not be pleasing news for cricket lovers as there are forecasts of thunderstorms and the chances of rain are between 35-51% from 10 am to 5 pm, mostly the entire duration of the game. The day would remain cloudy and chilly with temperatures ranging between 14-15 degrees celsius. In such conditions, any team winning the toss would choose to field first. 

Team News

England Women

The likes of Brunt and Anya Shrubsole could take time off to prepare for the upcoming T20I series and so can the batters like Beaumont and Sciver who have got a good hit so far. The team can go as far as resting Dunkley as well if they feel like it. With all these changes, those who have been part of the team but haven’t got an opportunity can get a go as well. 

Freya Davies, Mady Villiers and Emily Arlott can take the places of Brunt, Shrubsole and Sophie Ecclestone while the likes of Fran Wilson can be tries in the middle order. 

Probable XI

Lauren Winfield Hill, Fran Wilson, Heather Knight (c), Natalie Sciver, Amy Ellen Jones (wk), Sophia Dunkley, Emily Arlott, Sarah Glenn, Mady Villiers, Freya Davies, Kate Cross

India Women

The Indian team could really do with the change in the wicketkeeper. Not because of the wicket-keeping skills because Taniya Bhatia is probably the best behind the stumps. However, her batting is doing no favours to the team at all and Indrani, sitting in the room in probably the form of her life is going no good at all for her or the team. Thus she must be tried in this game where is losing doesn’t even matter. The rest of the team can remain unchanged if it wishes to. 


However, Mithali carried an injury in the last game and didn’t take the field. But as it stands, she has been declared fit and could play the game. If India don't want to risk her, Raut could take her place as easily as possible. 

Probable XI

Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Mithali Raj (c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Indrani Roy(wk), Shikha Pandey, Jhulan Goswami, Poonam Yadav

Dream XI and Fantasy XI team

Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Mithali Raj (c), Heather Knight, Natalie Sciver, Amy Ellen Jones (wk), Sophia Dunkley (vc), Sneh Rana, Kate Cross, Jhulan Goswami, Poonam Yadav 

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