WA leg spinner Alana King hopes spin idol Shane Warne would have loved Ashes spell against England
Alana King hopes her idol Shane Warne was looking down, watching her put on a leg-spin masterclass at the MCG.
In the first women’s Test at the famous ground since 1949, it was only fitting a spinner should star.
With the Shane Warne Stand behind her, King bowled 23 consecutive overs to bamboozle England on day one of the pink-ball Test on Thursday.
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King described the experience as “pretty nostalgic”, after watching Warne torment batters at the MCG when she was a child.
Like the legend who is immortalised with a statue outside the stadium, King looked likely to take a wicket most deliveries.
“Bowling from the Shane Warne Stand end is something, it’s the first time I’ve ever done it since the stand’s been named after him,” King said.
“He’s taken plenty of poles at the MCG for fun so all I can say is hopefully he’s smiling down and having a couple of beers and enjoying a few ripping past the outside edge.”
England star Nat Sciver-Brunt, who top-scored with 51, said King had not relented in her consistency during the whole series.
“The fact when it does turn, it’s not always the same amount every time; some might skid, some might turn and bounce,” Sciver-Brunt said.
“That makes it tricky when the stumps are always kept in play.
“Playing her off the back foot as much as possible is key and just reacting to every ball; being confident using our feet.”
Sciver-Brunt took time while she was batting to soak in the atmosphere of the 100,000-seat MCG.
But her admiration for the famous ground was broken when sledged by the Australians.
“They did ask who the boy was on the screen that had Sciver-Brunt on the back (of his shirt), so we talked about that for a bit,” Sciver-Brunt said.
“I think (Australia captain) Alyssa (Healy) wanted his number.”
Originally published on AAP
