Cracks Beneath the Shine: Chinks in Australia’s Armour That India Can Exploit

By Trisha Ghosal in Vizag

After their defeat against South Africa on the 9th, India now face the ODI World Cup defending champions, Australia. The Aussies have won two of their three matches so far and shared points from their abandoned game against Sri Lanka. Unsurprisingly, they sit atop the points table with five points and a healthy net run rate of +1.960, the best in the tournament. Yet beneath the sheen of supremacy lies a touch of vulnerability. Australia are still searching for a complete performance, and several cracks remain unaddressed. Here’s a closer look at where India can press the advantage.

Alyssa Healy’s Form with the Bat

Australia’s captain, wicketkeeper, and opener Alyssa Healy has been strikingly inconsistent since her iconic 170 in the 2022 ODI World Cup final. Since that innings, she has managed 664 runs in 25 innings at an average of 26.56 and a strike rate of 89.72, with just three fifties — modest returns for a top-order batter. Critics often defend her role as a brisk starter, but even her strike rate, 97 in 2025, doesn’t justify the inconsistency. In fact, among batters with ten or more innings in the past year, she ranks only 12th for strike rate, behind teammates Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, and Beth Mooney, all of whom score quicker.

India could exploit this slump, particularly through Kranti Goud, their in-form wicket-taker. Healy has struggled against her, dismissed by Goud in all three ODIs of the pre-World Cup series. With Renuka Singh Thakur’s availability uncertain, Kranti’s rhythm could once again unsettle the Australian skipper.

Tahlia McGrath’s Unclear Role

Tahlia McGrath’s role remains one of Australia’s biggest tactical puzzles. Once seen as a reliable top-order batter who contributed with the ball, she now finds herself batting as low as No. 7 or 8. With Ellyse Perry’s return to the XI, McGrath’s opportunities have dwindled, and in subcontinental conditions, her medium pace has limited impact.

Since the last World Cup, she’s scored 505 runs in 24 innings at an average of 25.25 and a strike rate of 86.17. This year, those numbers have dipped further, just 119 runs in seven innings at 17.00. Her bowling too has been peripheral: 15.1 overs across eight matches in 2025 for three wickets at an economy of 6.39. If she’s neither scoring nor bowling enough, Australia might be better served by bringing in Georgia Voll, a dynamic batter who can also bowl spin, or Georgia Wareham, a genuine all-rounder.

Inconsistency of Key Players: Perry and Sutherland

Ellyse Perry’s stature in the game is unquestionable, and Annabel Sutherland has been touted as Australia’s next big star. Yet both have been inconsistent. Perry, batting at No. 3, has managed only two fifties and one hundred in her last 20 ODIs, despite ample opportunity. Sutherland, meanwhile, has just one fifty in her last eight innings. Their fluctuating form, combined with Healy’s lean patch, indicates that Australia’s top order can indeed be put under pressure.

Struggle Against Quality Spin

During Australia’s recent series in India, Beth Mooney had confidently said, “We’ve spent a lot of time against spinners. Indians are playing a lot of spin, and it’s good to see that practice pay off.” That comfort, however, seems short-lived.

In this World Cup, eight of Australia’s 19 wickets have fallen to spin. Against Pakistan, they collapsed to 76/7 after losing six wickets to spinners. On the slower, turning tracks of Vizag, Australia could again find themselves in trouble. India’s trio of Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, and local favourite N. Sree Charani could test the Australians’ patience and footwork against spin.

The Georgia Voll Question

Georgia Voll’s exclusion is increasingly hard to justify. The 21-year-old has scored 254 runs in five ODIs, all against India, at an average of 63.50 and a strike rate of 109.48, including a century and a fifty. Her most recent knock, an 81 in Delhi, showcased her maturity and intent. Yet she’s played only two matches this year.

Voll’s inclusion could provide balance. She could open with Phoebe Litchfield, or slot in at No. 3 if Perry continues to struggle. Her off-spin could also prove handy on turning tracks. With several senior batters misfiring, leaving an in-form player like Voll out seems a luxury Australia can ill afford.

On paper, Australia remain the tournament’s most complete side. But cricket isn’t played on paper. Beneath the statistics lie trends and those trends suggest Australia are not invincible. If India can target their weaknesses with precision and discipline, another upset might just be on the cards. A win here could not only boost India’s semi-final hopes but also remind the world that even the mightiest champions can bleed.