Aussies to deflect heat from tourists

TWO wins from the three T20s against India will be enough for Australia to secure a series-victory and amid growing pressure, captain Meg Lanning is delighted it ends with a format in which Australia is world champion.

Expectations of success every time Lanning’s team steps on the field have grown at a rapid rate on the back of last year’s T20 World Cup win and a world-record run of 25 one-day international victories.

But it took a last-gasp win from behind in the second ODI for Australia to keep the record going, then an Indian win in the third game ended the streak at 25.

Then came a drawn Test match which was played almost entirely on the tourists’ terms as Australia battled to fight off defeat.

India has come hard at an Australian team littered with new faces and Lanning (pictured) knows her team has to “push back as hard as we can” in the final three games to hold on to their mantle as the best team in the world.

“We certainly expected India to come hard at us ... that’s what’s happened. It’s not a surprise,” Lanning said.

“It’s a good test for our group to be able to absorb some pressure that they have put on us and try and push back as hard as we can.”

Australia currently holds a 6-4 points lead in the series, with each of the three T20Is worth two points.

The return of fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck, who has been “terrorising” her teammates in the nets, is timely, while and other changes from the Test line-up are likely.

All-rounder Tahlia McGrath looks set to make her T20 debut after her excellent efforts with bat and ball in the one-day series, which included 121 runs in two innings, as well as four wickets.

Lanning said teenage speedsters Darcie Brown and Stella Campbell had come through their Test debuts well, but could be managed through the remaining three games.