Lanning keen for fast start

AUSTRALIA is looking to overturn its recent poor record in women’s T20 combat with New Zealand in the threematch series starting in Sydney tonight.

With the T20 World Cup in the West Indies in November, this series takes on great importance for Australian captain Meg Lanning.

Australia has won 15 of 35 trans-Tasman T20 clashes, and seven of its past nine.

“It’s something that we’re very keen to change and we’ve spoken about that a little bit, making sure we come out and make a bit of a statement in the first game,” Lanning said.

“They’ve got some world class players and some new players, so it’s the perfect preparation for a big tournament like a World Cup.”

Prolific batter Lanning has also had her share of problems with the White Ferns on an individual level.

She averages only 19 against New Zealand, and has only three 50s in 20 innings.

The series opener at North Sydney Oval will be her first home international since February 2017, after shoulder surgery sidelined the 26-year-old for last season’s Ashes.

“I’m really keen to get out there and just play with freedom and have some fun, I feel like I’m in pretty good form,” said Lanning, who scored 120 not out and 37 in the opening rounds of the domestic limited overs competition.

She said she had one decision to make over her final line-up but legspinner Georgia Wareham, 19, had a chance to make her international debut.

“She’s obviously quite young still but got some really good skills and a great temperament as well, so she is in with a shot,” Lanning said.

New Zealand has a spin threat in leggie Amelia Kerr, 17, who underlined her batting prowess through a women’s ODI record score of 232 against Ireland this year.

“Some of us played against her in the (English) KSL recently so we feel like we’ve got a pretty good handle on what we’re going to get,” Lanning said.