Phoebe Litchfield, Kim Garth included in Australia's Ashes squad

Opening batter Phoebe Litchfield has been included in Australia’s squad for the multi-format Girls’s Ashes in England later this yr alongside Kim Garth whereas quick bowler Tayla Vlaeminck is a part of the Australia A gaggle that may tour concurrently.

Litchfield, 19, could possibly be in line for a Check debut following the retirement of Rachael Haynes when the Ashes will get underway with a five-day encounter at Trent Bridge from June 22. She shall be an choice to open the batting relying on the place Australia wish to use Beth Mooney and Alyssa Healy.

Litchfield made her worldwide debut in opposition to India in December throughout the T20I collection earlier than impressing in her first look at ODI degree in opposition to Pakistan in January with 154 runs within the three-match collection.

Garth, the previous Eire allrounder who additionally made her first look for Australia in December, might additionally push for a Check debut as one of many tempo choices in a bowling assault that doesn’t lack for choices.

Grace Harris is the opposite participant within the squad uncapped at Check degree though she is more likely to be extra within the plans for the ODIs and T20Is which make up the multi-format Ashes.

Australia have held the Ashes since 2015 and received by a convincing 12 factors to 4 margin in 2021-22 though the Check produced a gripping contest the place England practically chased down a final-day goal earlier than hanging on 9 wickets down.

“Following the success of the facet on the current T20 World Cup, the main focus now turns to the thrilling problem of retaining the Ashes away from house,” nationwide selector Shawn Flegler stated. “We have been lucky to have a constant facet throughout all codecs over the previous couple of years and because of this we’ve got chosen an identical group to the squad which received the T20 World Cup in February.

“Phoebe Litchfield has taken her recreation to the subsequent degree up to now 12 months, we view her as a long-term participant for Australia and it is pleasing to reward her progress with choice in an Ashes squad.”

The inclusion of Vlaeminck within the Australia A squad is important along with her having not performed since early 2022 when she suffered one other stress fracture of her foot throughout that season’s Ashes.

“Tayla Vlaeminck is progressing in her rehabilitation and is working again in the direction of full bowling health,” Flegler stated. “She is a extremely regarded expertise and is definitely a part of our plans shifting ahead.”

With the Australia A tour overlapping the primary a part of the Ashes, there’s a probability for gamers to cross over if kind or accidents require reinforcements with the principle group. The A tour will embody three T20s and three one-day video games between June 21 and July 2.

“It is massively helpful to have an Australia A element to the tour and supply a possibility for our creating gamers to check themselves in circumstances they might not expertise in Australia,” Flegler stated.

“The character of concurrent excursions additionally presents flexibility and permits gamers to be obtainable for and cross over into each squads, whether or not it’s from a preparation perspective or to offer a possibility at worldwide degree.

From the A squad, left-arm seamer Lauren Cheatle, allrounder Heather Graham and legspinner Amanda-Jade Wellington have been capped at worldwide degree alongside Vlaeminck, whereas seamer Maitlan Brown has come shut. Batter Courtney Webb was the WNCL Participant of the Season for 2022-23.

Australia Ashes squad: 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

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