Australia have named their squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, with four spinners included and young quick Lucy Hamilton earning a call-up. Darcie Brown was a surprise omission from the 15-player group.
Spin quartet could feature
Chief selector Shawn Flegler indicated that all four spinners – Sophie Molineux, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham and Alana King – could play in the same side. Molineux, who has fully recovered from a lower back issue, will lead the team as captain.
“She’s our skipper and she’s going to play ... left-arm orthodox, it’s highly valued in the women’s game,” Flegler said. “Georgia’s been a number one legspinner. Alana’s come in and done really well. But I think the pecking order is pretty clear. We’ve got Ash, Soph and Georgia, and then if conditions allowed, then Alana comes into it as well.”
Hamilton replaces Brown
Left-arm quick Lucy Hamilton, 20, was included after debuting in all three formats in March. Darcie Brown missed out despite being a regular in recent tours. “She was obviously disappointed,” Flegler said. “We’ve been trying to get Darc up over the last couple of years to be a front-line bowler and bowl in that powerplay and she just hasn’t quite nailed that opportunity, but we still think she’s going to have a great career for Australia as well.”
Coach Shelley Nitschke praised Hamilton’s point of difference: “She gets some good bounce, bowls a really heavy ball; it’s a real point of difference, especially for our attack. There’s not a lot of them around.”
Redemption mission
Australia are seeking T20 World Cup redemption after semi-final exits in the most recent 50-over and 20-over events. Captain Sophie Molineux said: “We’ve got so much skill and experience, we’ve got some new energy. Being able to bring it all together and being able to perform in those big moments where we’ve been on the other side in the last couple of World Cups, that’s what’s really driving this group.”
Allrounder Nicola Carey returns to the T20 World Cup squad for the first time since 2020, while Grace Harris is back after being left out of the West Indies tour. Ellyse Perry will feature in her 10th T20 World Cup, having played in every edition since 2009.
Warm-up schedule
Australia will play five warm-up games in England and Wales before their campaign begins against South Africa on 13 June. Three matches at Arundel Castle against South Africa start on May 31, followed by two practice games against England in Cardiff.
Australia squad: Sophie Molineux (captain), Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham. Travelling reserve: Tahlia Wilson.
