Australia pick Brown ahead of Schutt and bat against New Zealand

Defending champions Australia won the toss and chose to bat against New Zealand, in the first-ever women's ODI at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. They left out their premier fast bowler Megan Schutt, with captain Alyssa Healy saying Australia preferred the pace of Darcie Brown.

Left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux also made her return to international cricket after a long injury lay-off, having last played an ODI in December 2024. With Alana King as the other spinner in Australia's XI, Georgia Wareham missed out. In Schutt's absence, Brown and Kim Garth are expected to share the new ball. Healy, however, said Schutt "will play a big role at the World Cup".

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine said she also wanted to bat. New Zealand opted for three seamers in Lea Tahuhu, Jess Kerr and Bree Illing, and one spinner Eden Carson. Left-arm pacer Illing, who made her New Zealand debut in March this year, will be playing her fourth ODI. There were no surprises in the batting line-ups of either side.

On the eve of the game, Devine had said that the pitch looked "absolutely flat". During the pitch report, Aaron Finch said the decision to bat first was a "little strange" with dew being a possible factor later.

Australia have won their previous 15 ODIs against New Zealand, going back to 2017.

New Zealand: 1 Suzie Bates, 2 Georgia Plimmer, 3 Amelia Kerr, 4 Sophie Devine (capt), 5 Brooke Halliday, 6 Maddy Green, 7 Isabella Gaze, 8 Jess Kerr, 9 Lea Tahuhu, 10 Eden Carson, 11 Bree Illing

Australia: 1 Alyssa Healy (capt & wk), 2 Phoebe Litchfield, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Beth Mooney, 5 Annabel Sutherland, 6 Ashleigh Gardner, 7 Tahlia McGrath, 8 Sophie Molineux, 9 Alana King, 10 Kim Garth, 11 Darcie Brown