Australia turn attention to India, wait on injured skipper

The reigning World Cup champions have locked in a date with India in Navi Mumbai on Thursday, and the planning for that match has already begun.

Australia are hoping to regain captain Alyssa Healy for their knockout semifinal clash against India at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup on Thursday.

The Aussies defeated South Africa by seven wickets in Indore on Saturday and have some valuable time off before their semifinal contest against the tournament hosts.

Those extra days will provide Healy the chance to recover from her calf injury and Australia coach Shelley Nitschke is hoping her skipper will be fit to feature.

"She wasn't quite up to it tonight but she'll continue to be assessed," Nitschke said.

"We're really hopeful for the semi, but still a few days to play out before that. And we're hopeful again, she'll just continue to be assessed the closer we get to that."

Australia registered a three-wicket victory over India during the league stage of the World Cup, with Healy leading the way with a brilliant innings of 142 as the Aussies chased down their mammoth victory target of 331 with one over remaining.

NITSCHKE ON KING

Spinner Alana King went wicketless in that contest and only bowled six overs as India's batters scored freely against her, with Nitschke admitting she may use the right-armer differently this time around.

"I think it's just sort of seeing when the game plays out," the Australian coach said of King following her seven-wicket haul against the Proteas.

"She obviously doesn't come on a lot in the Powerplay. So, once you sort of get through that, it's then about the batters that are in the matchups and the stage of the game and who's going to be the best person to bowl."

And while India will have a parochial home crowd cheering them on in the knockout semifinal in Navi Mumbai, the venue holds no fears for the Aussies following their 2-1 T20I series triumph over Harmanpreet Kaur's side at the venue at the start of last year.

“We have played a lot at that ground and against India," Australia vice-captain Tahlia McGrath said.

"It’s a knockout game, you have to be on. Qualifying, job one done, now to job two – the knockouts.”