Australia Women gearing up for challenge to prepare for India Test during WBBL

Australia Women are gearing up for the major task of preparing for the India day-night Test in the midst of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2023-24. Notably, the pink-ball encounter is part of the multi-format series which will be played in December and January, whereas the WBBL will run from October 19, until December 2.

Shawn Flegler, national selector of the women’s team, revealed that the think tank is already on the process of ideating a plan for the bowlers to increase their workload during the WBBL as part of the preparation for the Test series.

"We've got to do preparation during the WBBL which is really important for, one, our pace bowlers to have their loads up and be ready to go if required to bowl long spells during the Test match, but also our spin bowlers. So it's a balancing act playing WBBL but also getting some loads in and preparing,” Flegler was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Notably, the two cricketing powerhouses will square off in the Test series for the first time in India since 1984. Australia and India last contested in a day-night Test match at the Carrara Oval in 2021, wherein the two sides ended on level terms.

Will be good challenge for everyone coming out of WBBL: Shawn Flegler

Flegler further highlighted that the side will travel a little more than a week prior to the multi-format series. In addition to this, the side will prepare with extra players from India and likely have an intrasquad game prior to the Tests.

"We're going to go to India a week or 10 days before the Test match starts. So, we'll have some good training prep leading into that. We'll have some extra players from India that we will use in some centre-wicket scenarios. We don't have an actual warm-up fixture,” said Flegler.

“We've gone down the path of having an intrasquad game essentially. So, we'll have the squad over there with some extras from India. It'll be a good challenge for everyone coming out of WBBL into a pink-ball Test match under lights,” he added.