Teen sensation Phoebe Litchfield is in line for a possible Test debut after being named in Australia’s squad for the ladies’s Ashes.
Litchfield is the one new face introduced into the 15-woman squad for the multi-format collection, with selectors retaining all gamers who received the Twenty20 World Cup.
The 19-year-old’s call-up comes after a stellar house summer time, the place she was dismissed solely as soon as in her first three ODIs towards Pakistan and totalled 154 runs.
Long thought to be one of many nation’s greatest younger abilities, Litchfield additionally averaged 49.87 for NSW in one-day cricket, and registered her maiden WNCL century.
“Phoebe Litchfield has taken her game to the next level in the past 12 months,” chief selector Shawn Flegler mentioned.
“We view her as a long-term player for Australia and it’s pleasing to reward her progress with selection in an Ashes squad.”
Litchfield’s probabilities of cracking into the Test staff on June 22 at Trent Bridge are helped by Rachael Haynes’ retirement following Australia’s final four-day match in 2022, leaving a niche on the prime of the order.
The left-hander can be thought of a real probability of taking that spot, until Australia open with Beth Mooney and play an additional bowler than of their final Test.
Kim Garth and Grace Harris are the opposite two gamers within the squad with out Test expertise.
English situations can be anticipated to go well with Garth and her skill to maneuver the ball, after shifting from Ireland and turning into one in every of Australia’s front-line bowlers.
Harris beforehand toured England for the 2015 Ashes, however is seen as extra of a white-ball participant for the three T20s and ODIs that comply with the Test match.
Legspinner Amanda-Jade Wellington is once more the unfortunate participant, picked as an alternative for the Australia A tour, with fellow legspinners Alana King and Georgia Wareham most popular for the primary squad.
Tayla Vlaeminck has additionally been named to make her comeback within the A facet, after a prolonged layoff from foot fractures suffered in January 2022.
“She is progressing in her rehabilitation and is working back towards full bowling fitness,” Flegler said.
“She is a extremely regarded expertise and is actually a part of our plans shifting ahead.”
Australia will keep their options open of moving players out of the A squad and into the top team, with their three ODIs and T20s scheduled around the senior side.
Notable absentees from that squad include Elyse Villani, with the door now seemingly shut at age 33 after topping the run-scoring charts in the WNCL for two of the past three summers.
Tasmania teammate Nicola Carey was also left out of both squads, after being dropped from Australia’s main group in January.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD FOR WOMEN’S ASHES
Meg Lanning (capt), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham.
AUSTRALIA A SQUAD
Maitlan Brown, Lauren Cheatle, Maddy Darke, Heather Graham, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Charli Knott, Kate Peterson, Courtney Sippel, Tayla Vlaeminck, Courtney Webb, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Tahlia Wilson.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
