Ian Bishop urges India to play an extra bowler against Australia in Women’s World Cup

India and Australia clash in the second semifinal in Navi Mumbai on Thursday. The combination of five batters, a wicketkeeper, and five bowlers — three of them all-rounders — has been India’s trusted template through much of this World Cup cycle.

But its limitations were been brutally exposed in the league stage losses against South Africa, Australia and England. As a result India were forced to bring in specialist pacer Renuka Thakur in place of fast-bowling all-rounder Amanjot Kaur in their must-win game against New Zealand.

“I would like India to have that extra bowling depth and allow the batters to take responsibility, whatever that combination is,” JioStar expert Bishop said on the eve of the second semifinal.

“With the batting depth of Australia, I would want to have that extra bowling combination. I don’t like part-timers in such a big game. Back the batting at the top, they are specialists to get you runs, but always have that fallback, especially at the DY Patil, which looks to a good batting surface,” he added.

Australia possess a staggering batting depth, which makes them extremely difficult to beat. They have had different match winners through the tournament.

With PTI Inputs.