Cricket Australia (CA) selectors have announced their women”s international squad for Australia”s ODI & T20I tour of India which starts soon.
Meg Lanning will captain the team during the tour of India next month. Lanning, who has been out of cricket till now since the World Cup semi-final against India – having gone through a shoulder surgery, she features in both the ODI and T20I squads announced by the Australian selectors on Wednesday, Feb 21.
Following the retirement of Alex Blackwell, Rachael Haynes is named the vice-captain of the side. Not yet debut all-rounders Sophie Molineux and Nicola Carey were also named in both the squads, while 20-year-old pacer Belinda Vakarewa was part of the ODI squad, having featured in a single ODI so far.
We think Soph is pinching herself with excitement at being named in the Aussie squad to tour India! 😂 #thatsthespirit pic.twitter.com/6X7czv9fJa
— VicSpirit (@VicSpirit) February 21, 2018
Shawn Flagler, the national selector was quoted as “Meg”s rehab has been progressing well, she”s back to her old self with the bat and with a few weeks until the first match, we”re confident she”ll be right to play when the times comes,”.
“Meg will resume the captaincy and we”re extremely fortunate to have Rach as her deputy after doing a fantastic job as stand-in skipper during the Women”s Ashes. She”ll be a great sounding board for Meg and will continue to drive the standards of the team.” Shawn added.
Australia will be without the services of all-rounder Tahlia McGrath though, who will not feature on the tour with a back problem. McGrath felt back pain during the final round of WNCL, with scans showing a continuity of bone oedema in her lumbar spine.
“It”s unfortunate for Tahlia that she was unavailable for selection, she showed great skills and character during the Ashes and in domestic cricket so the focus for her now will be to get her body right with a view to the T20 WC,” Flegler said.
Australia ODI squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington
Australia T20 squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Naomi Stalenberg, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington