Australia selectors prepare for life after Lanning ahead of India

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Australia coach Shelley Nitschke admits a changing of the guard has hit her faster than expected, as officials hold off a decision on Meg Lanning's full-time successor.

Selectors will announce a squad for next month's multi-format tour of India on Tuesday, less than a week after Lanning's shock retirement call.

It's unlikely a captain will be named until closer to Australia's December 13 departure, with a decision still needing to be made and approved by the Cricket Australia board.
Alyssa Healyremains the frontrunner, with the 33-year-old having put her hand up for the job after leading Australia in Lanning's absence for parts of the past year.

Tahlia McGrath is the other potential option if officials prefer a longer-term replacement, given the 28-year-old has served as Healy's deputy on recent tours.

"There's quite a few things to weigh up around it," Nitschke told AAP. "It's just a matter of going through the process.

"Sitting down with the selectors and people who make those decisions and working out what's the best thing moving forward."

Nitschke knew when she took over as coach last year she would oversee a significant period of transition in the all-conquering women's team.

But that time has arrived after Lanning and her previous deputy Rachael Haynes retired in the space of 14 months following a five-year period of Australian dominance
"We always knew that the transition is coming, but it probably hasn't played out how you might have guessed," Nitschke said. "Rach we knew was probably coming at some point.

"But I probably didn't expect to be at this point and having Meg retire. We'll certainly miss her. Even though she obviously hasn't been around the group for a little while now. I'd always thought she would return. We'll miss her presence and leadership and all the rest of it."

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Australia's first assignment in the post-Lanning era is a tricky one in India. The team wants to shift its mindset in the three T20Is and ODIs with a more attacking approach, while the December 21 Test will be Australia's first in the country since 1984.

Lanning's recent absences have allowed Phoebe Litchfield to step up in the top order, and it's unlikely there will be mass changes from the squad that drew the Ashes series in July.

The fact Australia regularly plays three spinners, including allrounder Ashleigh Gardner, means Nitschke believes the squad always resembles one that suits Indian conditions.

But the biggest challenge will come in foreign conditions with the bat in the Test match, particularly with Lanning not there. Australia will keep a close eye on England's Test in Mumbai against India next month, and Nitschke is hopeful a warm-up match can be organised.

"If it starts to turn, particularly in the second innings, it could present some conditions that we haven't faced for a while," Nitchscke said. "That's something that most of the players wouldn't have experienced before. We're going to have to talk about and adjust to pretty quickly."

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