Big picture: Healy's swansong begins as Australia look to fight back against ODI champions

Are we in the midst of a power shift in women's cricket? Having been at the forefront for seemingly forever, Australia's stranglehold on the game is feeling decidedly shaky.

They do not currently hold a World Cup trophy and for the first time since 2017 lost a home bilateral series after falling 2-1 to India in the T20 leg of the multi-format series. A new era under skipper Sophie Molineux started in unconvincing fashion with Australia completely outplayed by India in games one and three.

There will undoubtedly be some concern ahead of June's T20 World Cup. For now, Australia will look to get back on track in the multi-format series with retiring captain Alyssa Healy hoped to spark the side as she starts her retirement tour that culminates with the one-off Test in Perth.

While Molineux, who will be the vice-captain, is still finding her bearings in the hot seat, Healy's leadership and aura will be hoped to help Australia regain the type of swagger they've been exhibiting for years.

And they'll need to find their best quickly because Australia has to win at least two of the three ODIs against India if they are to clinch the multi-format series outright.

The ODI leg starts on Tuesday at their happy hunting ground of the Allan Border Field in Brisbane, where Australia are unbeaten in the format, before shifting to Hobart for back-to-back games. This might be one of the group's sternest challenges against an increasingly confident India riding high after winning a bilateral series in Australia for the first time in a decade.

India have never beaten Australia in an ODI bilateral series but enter with the sheen of being World Cup champions having so memorably triumphed on home soil just four months ago. Their semi-final victory over Australia, where they chased down a record 339-run target in front of a febrile crowd in Mumbai, might end up being one of the most defining results in women's cricket.

Long touted as the sleeping giants of women's cricket, India appears close to taking the mantle with more resources and the boon of the WPL fuelling a rise that appears limitless.

The series marks a return for the teams in the ODI format since the World Cup, bringing back a flood of contrasting memories for the sides. It will be fascinating to see how the teams respond amid this intriguing power struggle in women's cricket.

Form guide

Australia LWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
India WWWLL

In the spotlight: Alyssa Healy and Jemimah Rodrigues

All eyes will be on Alyssa Healy as she enters the final stages of her legendary career. Having spent time in the commentary box during the Ashes, making steps towards her post-playing career, Healy has returned to the field in the WNCL and wound back the clock when she smashed 81 not out against ACT. Healy, of course, has not played international cricket since the World Cup semi-final in what was a night she would rather forget. She will be hoping to exact a little bit of revenge and finish up on a winning note.

Jemimah Rodrigues played the innings of a lifetime when her unbeaten 127 led India to completing the miraculous chase in the World Cup semi. She was promoted to No.3 in that match to devastating effect but India's riches at the top-of-the order might see her move down a spot in this series. She enters the match in form after hitting 59 off 46 balls in the T20I decider in Adelaide, where her early freewheeling approach changed the course of the innings. Once again proving her talismanic qualities, Rodrigues also took a brilliant catch in the outfield to dismiss danger player Ashleigh Gardner and snuff out Australia's hopes.

Team news: King likely to return; Rawal creates top-order squeeze

There is a chance that Georgia Voll is forced back to the bench with Healy returning, but it won't be as wicketkeeper with AAP reporting Beth Mooney will take the gloves. Legspinner Alana King should make her way into the XI and has a point to prove after being on the outer of T20I cricket and so Tahlia McGrath, who was not selected in the T20 leg. Grace Harris and Megan Schutt, who was overlooked through the T20I series, are not part of the squad. Darcie Brown struggled in the T20Is but the squad is not full of frontline pace bowlers. One option could be to go with Nicola Carey given her new-ball success at domestic level

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

Pratika Rawal is set to make her return earlier than expected after knee and ankle injuries cut short her World Cup. She was a late inclusion into the ODI squad after only initially being selected for the Test. Her availability does present some headaches for selectors after Shafali stepped into her shoes superbly with a knock for the ages in the World Cup final against South Africa. Shafali could remain at the top of the order with Rawal slotting in at No. 3. Recalled seam bowling allrounder Kashvee Gautam could be named after some solid performances in the WPL. Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma is in line to make her ODI debut having played five T20Is while quick Arundhati Reddy, who starred with eight wickets in the T20I series, is not part of the squad.

India (Probable): 1 Shafali Verma, 2 Smriti Mandhana, 3 Pratika Rawal, 4 Jemimah Rodrigues, 5 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 6 Deepti Sharma, 7 Richa Ghosh (wk), 8 Kashvee Gautam/Amanjot Kaur, 9 Kranti Gaud/Vaishnavi Sharma, 10 Shree Charani, 11 Renuka Singh

Pitch and conditions: Threat of showers eases during the day

Amid Brisbane's renowned humidity, swing and movement is usually on offer especially with the new ball. Visiting teams over the years at the Allan Border Field have often struggled early against Australia's seamers. As is often the case this time of year in Brisbane, conditions will be muggy and rain could be around although forecast to fall in the morning so might clear in time for this day-night contest.

Stats and trivia

• Beth Mooney is three runs away from becoming the seventh Australian to reach 3000 ODI runs.

• Richa Ghosh's strike-rate of 103.9 (minimum 1000 balls faced) is the highest by an India batter in ODIs

• Smriti Mandhana needs one century to equal Meg Lanning's tally of 15 as the most in ODIs.

• Australia have won all 20 completed ODIs at the Allan Border Field, including twice against India in December 2024.