In her first ODI knock, it was becoming that Phoebe Litchfield batted with Meg Lanning. On her debut in January 2023 towards Pakistan, the then-19-year-old left-handed opener scored a match-winning 78* and shared a partnership price 137 runs with the now-retired legend of the sport.
After that recreation, wherein she was filling in for Alyssa Healy on the high of the order, Litchfield quipped: “I’m joyful to run drinks for a very long time. I’m simply joyful to be round this group. If there is a chance, I’ll take it however I will likely be fairly joyful to see Midge (Healy) again.”
Quick ahead a 12 months, and as Australia enter a brand new period underneath Healy’s management, however with the identical outdated aspiration of dominance, Litchfield is entrance and centre. On Tuesday in Mumbai, she was concerned in a 189-run partnership with the present captain as she scored an aesthetic 119 to energy her aspect to a mammoth 338/7. And it was Healy who had the perfect seat in the home.
India managed simply 148 in response and Litchfield was sensational within the discipline too – taking an early contender for catch of the 12 months at cowl to dismiss Amanjot Kaur – because the 190-run win accomplished a 3-0 sequence sweep for the guests.
“At 20 years of age, what an unbelievable expertise we’ve unearthed,” Healy beamed after her aspect accomplished a rout on the Wankhede Stadium. “To have two ODI a whole lot underneath her belt already is horrifying. She’s one for the longer term little doubt, for me it’s an incredible expertise to face on the different finish and watch the subsequent era. She can also be the self-proclaimed finest fielder within the crew and she or he proved that right now.”
That’s a contented dugout for Pheebs 100 😍 #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/u3wI2I9aLz
— Australian Girls’s Cricket Workforce 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) January 2, 2024
For India, after getting shut on Saturday however shedding a match they need to have most likely received, there was little or no to write down house about. Shreyanka Patil’s spell of three/57, with back-to-back wickets of Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath, was a spotlight and the teen got here for reward from her captain after the match. Deepti Sharma picked up her one centesimal ODI wicket, changing into the primary Indian to achieve that milestone in each white-ball codecs. However the batting was a no-show as an already steep goal saved getting out of attain with common fall of wickets.
Phoebe’s elegant ton
Litchfield completed the day because the Participant of the Match and Participant of the Collection. When her tour to India started final month with the one-off Check, she was run out for a 0-ball 0 within the first over, after a misunderstanding with Mooney. However since then, with each subsequent knock she has performed, she’s proven her class.
By the way, within the second innings of the Check, when she was wanting in good contact, she obtained out taking part in the reverse sweep. However come the white-ball sequence, Litchfield introduced out that shot ceaselessly to nice impact. Within the first ODI, she performed second fiddle to Ellyse Perry earlier than shifting by way of the gears and ending with 78. Within the second recreation, she was dropped 3 times and rode her luck to complete with a stable 63. However the third ODI was a case examine for a younger batter who is consistently studying and enhancing.
The strategy towards spinners, already fairly stable, was far more assured as she went ahead and again because the size demanded. Whereas she took her time to get going within the earlier matches, Litchfield was putting at almost a-run-a-ball from the phrase go. It’s not typically that Healy is a spectator for probably the most half throughout a prolonged partnership, however Litchfield was constantly out-hitting her senior companion in a superb show of wristwork and footwork.
Destined for larger issues
Ever so hardly ever, younger cricketers attain the best of phases already earmarked for greatness. Even earlier than they face a ball, there’s an aura round them, and it may go both approach. They both embrace it or let it get to them. To date, Litchfield has proven she may be very a lot within the former class, not simply together with her abilities however together with her temperament too. Her first response, in actual fact, after the century on Tuesday was to say, “I’ve good batters round me.”
There’s a video of a 16-year-old Litchfield batting within the nets for New South Wales, exhibiting the vary of her pictures – together with the now acquainted drive by way of the offside and reverse sweep – that went viral on social media in 2019. She was nonetheless in class then, however anybody who noticed that video, knew they had been watching somebody particular.
After her debut towards Pakistan, she was requested about being within the limelight so quickly in her profession. “I strive to not assume an excessive amount of about it,” she had stated. “It most likely comes on after I fail a bit extra and I look again and go, ‘am I pretty much as good as, you realize, everybody says I’m?’ however I feel it’s simply right down to watching the ball on the finish of the day and as soon as I get on the sector, it goes away which is good.”
As 2024 begins, few individuals could have doubts over the expertise that Litchfield is, as she confirmed emphatically that she’s right here to remain.