Beth Mooney wants her side “to put on a show” as Australia looking to put England to shame with a 16-0 scoreline.
Beth Mooney wants Australia to “show off our skills” during the day-night Ashes Test at the MCG as they aim to complete a miserable tour for England by claiming a 16-0 whitewash.
Mooney, who scored an undefeated 94 off 63 balls in the third Twenty20 International, acknowledged that there was some sadness that the Test match wasn’t a live Ashes match, but he also expressed hope that it would give the squad more flexibility to perform.
“It’s going to be awesome,” Mooney said. “We obviously don’t get to pull on the baggy green too often. The pink ball behaves a little bit differently so that’ll create some challenges. I’m just really looking forward to the spectacle of the game to be honest.
“We’re pumped that we’re 12-0 up. It certainly would have been nice if we played the test match while the series was still on the line, maybe earlier in the series, but that wasn’t to be. I think on an individual front and as a group it’s come at a great time for us to basically just show off our skills and really enjoy playing the four-day game.”
As she continues to remove Alyssa Healy’s wicketkeeping gloves, Mooney stated she will bat in the middle order for the Test. Australia’s skipper is training nonstop to attempt to get past a foot issue so she can play as a batter. Although Mooney has started the last three Test matches as an opener, the workload would be too heavy for her to maintain wickets in that capacity.
“I take pride in the fact that I can offer the coaching staff and selection panel different options,” Mooney said. “Whether it’s batting order or behind the stumps or in the field. It’ll be a nice challenge for me wicketkeeping and batting in that middle order role, so looking forward to what that’s going to present and hopefully I’m just warming Midge’s spot for a little while.”
Given that Healy has fallen down the Test cricket hierarchy in recent years, Australia will have an intriguing selection decision to make if she is healthy. Unless the selectors could also find space for Georgia Voll, she would probably have to return to the top with Phoebe Litchfield.
Sophie Molineux was injured during Australia’s most recent Test match against South Africa at the WACA, leaving one spot open. While Megan Schutt might be considered as an additional seamer due to the pink-ball factor, Georgia Wareham might join the team as a partner for fellow legspinner Alana King. Wareham has only participated in one Test match, which was against India in 2021.
Ash Gardner is expected to be fit after a calf injury kept her out of the T20I series.