Australia’s women cricketers have started training with pink balls during the ongoing ODI series with West Indies in preparation for the day-night Test against India in December, which is likely to be played in Mumbai.

Even with the prospect of West Indies star Hayley Matthews returning from a quad injury for the second ODI at the Junction Oval in Melbourne after missing the first ODI loss in Brisbane, the hosts spent the lead-in to Thursday’s match in Melbourne training with pink balls

The famed Wankhede Stadium is set to host a Test in December in what would be India’s first home women’s Test since 2014. Mumbai hosted Australia’s most recent women’s Test in India way back in February 1984. India and Australia played out a draw at Carrara on the Gold Coast in a day-night Test in October 2021.

“I think the coaches thought it could be a good chance just to have a try with the pink balls,” emerging allrounder Annabel Sutherland said on Wednesday.

“We had a Test on the Gold Coast and weren’t able to get a lot of preparation for that just because of the short notice for the series and with Covid [restrictions].

“You look at the men, they often swap between red and white balls within close windows of time, so if we can get comfortable with the pink ball, red ball, white ball, whatever it is, it’ll certainly make the lead-up Test matches [easier].

“Any chance you get to play in India is one that you look forward to.”

Sutherland, who turns 22 on Thursday, is eager for more time in the middle but will continue biding her time down the order. Already with a Test and ODI century to her name, Sutherland has been down to bat at No.7 in the matches against the Windies so far this summer.

Australia have such depth with bat and ball that players who can open for their state and in franchise cricket regularly get relegated to the lower order.

“I’m always up for more time in the middle,” Sutherland said on Wednesday. “I’m in the coach’s ear all the time, I’m sure I’m annoying [coach Shelley Nitschke] just as much as a few others who are pretty keen for a hit.

“The girls up top are doing a pretty good job as always.

“I’m happy to be patient at the moment and watch the girls do their work up top.”

Sutherland said Australia were expecting Matthews to return from a quad injury after the superstar was sorely missed by the West Indies during a heavy defeat on Sunday.

Matthews blitzed 310 runs from 178 balls across the T20 component of the tour, lifting West Indies to a world record run-chase and offering hope in the two T20I losses.

Australia will be without Darcie Brown after she was ruled out of the remainder of the ODI series with a hamstring injury. Heather Graham has been called into Australia’s squad as cover.