MELBOURNE (Australia): Former Australian paceman Brett Lee heaped praise on India opening batsman Shafali Verma and said that the hosts will have to work hard to dismiss her.
Australia take on India in the seventh ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final at the MCG here on Sunday.
The hosts are making their sixth successive final appearance while India will be playing in their first-ever final.
“India boast one of the most talented players in the world and you feel that for Australia to win the game, dismissing her (Shafali) will likely be their first job,” said Lee, who made his Test debut against India in 1999.
“I’ve been so impressed with the opener. It’s staggering to believe she’s only 16 with the confidence she has in her own ability and the way she strikes the ball so cleanly. She’s such good fun to watch. I’m not sure the women’s game has seen anyone like her for such a long time.”
Verma’s explosive batting at the top of the order saw her score 161 runs in four innings including knocks of 47 and 46 against Sri Lanka and New Zealand, which helped her become only the second India batswoman after Mithali Raj to top the Women’s T20I batting rankings.
“To be the world’s best T20 batter already shows just how far she has progressed in such a short space of time and the experience in this tournament will hold her in good stead for years to come.
Even with the way she’s played in Australia and her fearless brand of cricket, you still get the feeling she has more to come as well. She’s got a big score in her locker and there’s probably no better place to do that than the MCG,” the 43-year-old told ICC-cricket.com.
“Shafali is already a record breaker but if she can steer her side to their first T20 World Cup title at just 16, then the sky really is the limit for her career.” (Source: ICC)
