Perry to lead the attack on India

AUSTRALIA’S fast bowling coach Ben Sawyer has “no doubt” Ellyse Perry will take the new ball in the one-dayers against India, with the attack needing to step up in the absence of Megan Schutt.

Schutt will miss the multiformat series against India after her partner recently gave birth to their first child.

And while Sawyer said Schutt would be missed, her absence put the onus on the rest of Australia’s quicks to step up and opened an opportunity for one of the new generation of fast bowlers.

The Aussies played a warmup match in Brisbane on Saturday before flying out to Mackay on Sunday ahead of the first of three one-day internationals to be played there from Tuesday.

While Stella Campbell impressed with the wickets of key Indian batters Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh in Australia’s 36-run win, Perry’s stint with the new ball showed she is ready to step up after a horror year battling injury.

“She looks so much stronger. I think the thing that people forget is it was a major hamstring injury,” Sawyer said of the tear that forced Perry out of the world T20 final and into surgery last year.

“She tried to come back and did well but now that it’s 18 months on, she’s in a really good position and has looked really good over the past couple of days.

“I’ve got no doubt she’ll (take the new ball).”

Sawyer said replacing Schutt would be difficult but the new generation of quicks would attempt to rise to the challenge.

“Megan Schutt in particular is absolute world class and trying to replace her isn’t easy,” Sawyer said.

“So trying to find a replacement for her is difficult but I’m sure we’ll get through it and the girls know that that’s a position and a role that someone’s going to have to take up.

“She’s a world-class bowler and hard to replace but we’ll do our best.”

Sawyer was pleased with the efforts of the quicks in the practice match, played just days after many of the Australians ended their two-week quarantine period.