Need to make sure we are comfortable: Haynes on Showground Stadium

Australia will be hosting this year's T20 World Cup starting from February 21. The hosts certainly have the advantage of home support from the fans and familiarity of the grounds. But there is one ground, where Australia will not have the advantage of home conditions. Australia kick-off their World Cup campaign against India in Sydney's Showground Stadium, a venue which is yet to host an international match.

Only five games have been played in this stadium across five seasons of Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) - none in the fifth edition. To get used to the conditions beforehand, Australia will play a T20 match against Cricket Australia XI on Monday (January 27) at the Showground Stadium.

"That’s what it’s all about, to get used to that ground," Australia vice-captain Rachael Haynes told cricket.com.au on Sunday (January 26).

"This year with the WBBL we didn’t get to play any matches there like we have in the past. I think it’ll be a really good opportunity for our players to adjust to the conditions. Even just spending some time in the stadium too, because it is a little bit different fielding there."

The pitch at Showground in Sydney is generally on the dry and on the slower side, much like pitches that are generally used in subcontinent. The match against Cricket Australia XI will therefore be extremely crucial for the World Cup squad members to get a feel of conditions beforehand.

India will no doubt pose a huge threat for Australia going into the tri-series and the T20 World Cup. Of the two matches that Australia lost in the T20 format in the past two years, one was against India in November 2018 in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup held in West Indies.

Haynes is the only player other than Nicola Carey to have played at the Showground before for Sydney Thunder in the WBBL. Harmanpreet Kaur, India's T20 captain, is the only Indian to have played four matches on this ground. These three players will certainly help pass on some valuable knowledge to other players about the pitch and the conditions.

"That’s probably the unique thing about playing in Australia, wherever you play there is something unique to that ground where you have to adjust," said Haynes.

"Showground is no different and for us (and it’s) a great opportunity make sure we’re really comfortable with how we need to play in those conditions."

The practice game gives players a chance to get used to conditions before Australia face India on February 21. Cricket Australia XI will be led by Tahlia McGrath, and has the likes of Molly Strano, Heather Graham and Belinda Vakarewa in the mix.

"No doubt we’ll try (some different) things, and get a good idea of how we can help our game to work under those conditions," Haynes said.

"One of the great benefits of our squad is our depth and our ability to pick a team for the conditions and for the opposition we’re coming up against."