A well-known however unfamiliar venue and a international, hybrid floor await Australia of their high-stakes Commonwealth Video games Twenty20 cricket debut towards India.
Edgbaston Stadium has performed host to Australia’s tied World Cup semi-final towards South Africa in 1999, England’s two-run Ashes victory in 2005 and Steve Smith’s twin Ashes tons of on return in 2019.
However solely certainly one of Australia’s all-conquering ladies’s aspect – Rachael Haynes – has ever performed there.
And in an additional unknown, the match will likely be performed on a hybrid floor that weaves synthetic materials with turf to depart the groups guessing a time out from competitors.
“Enjoying the primary recreation on it may be the toughest in some methods after which we’re enjoying the final (pool recreation on hybrid too),” allrounder Ash Gardner instructed reporters on Thursday, admitting the workforce had little expertise on the floor.
Standard in the UK, the hybrid floor is designed to be extra hardy and climate resistant than conventional turf pitches that will deteriorate underneath the pressure of back-to-back video games on the identical centre sq. throughout the event.
“There was just a little little bit of buy (for spin bowlers at Thursday’s coaching),” Gardner stated.
“It will be fascinating to see how totally different it’s in comparison with the primary and final recreation.
“Our workforce’s so nice at adapting, it doesn’t matter what circumstances are thrown up at us, to go on the run.
“Whether or not that is with bat or ball in hand, our workforce sums these circumstances up fairly shortly.”
Medal video games will likely be performed on the standard turf wickets that stay on the Edgbaston centre sq., in what’s cricket’s first Video games look since a males’s 50-over event in 1998.
The essential pool recreation will happen in prime time on Friday evening again in Australia and sure resolve who tops their group, the loser left with no room to maneuver as solely the highest two sides progress to semi-finals.
Gardner is not anticipating a lot help both, given the wholesome inhabitants of Indians within the host metropolis.
“Hopefully there’s a number of Aussie supporters, however I would suppose we’ll be fairly outnumbered,” she stated.
“It is going to be an superior factor to be concerned in … the ambiance that creates is incredible and to have that help behind ladies’s cricket is superb.”
