Photo Credit: Western Australian Cricket Association
Cricket Australia’s National Selection Panel (NSP) has named a 14-player squad for the upcoming CommBank Women’s ODI Tour of Ireland.
Western Australian duo Alana King and Beth Mooney have been included, after the pair played crucial roles in the Australia’s recent test match victory against England at Trent Bridge.
Mooney’s contributions at the top of the order were extremely important in the result going Australia’s way, with her 85 in the second innings allowing her side to build an unassailable lead, while her 33 on the opening day got Australia off to a solid start.
While King didn’t have the success with the ball we have become accustomed to seeing over the past 18 months, her 47-run partnership with Annabel Sutherland allowed the young gun to reach her maiden test century.
Dublin-born fast bowler Kim Garth has been named in a strong Australian squad which will return to Ireland for a bilateral series for the first time since 2015.
Garth made her senior debut for Ireland as a 14-year-old and played 114 internationals before moving to Australia in 2020 to pursue a career as a professional cricketer.
Fast bowler Megan Schutt will be rested following the women’s Ashes, while Heather Graham will remain in England and link up with the Australian squad at the conclusion of the Australia A series.
Australia and Ireland will play three ODIs across six days in Dublin as part of the ICC Women’s Championship.
Broadcast details for the series will be confirmed shortly.
CA’s Head of Performance (Women’s Cricket) and National Selector, Shawn Flegler said:
“While our players and staff are squarely focused on retaining the Ashes at present, there is excitement about returning to Ireland for the ODI series in the coming weeks.
“Taking on an emerging Ireland team in their home conditions will be a great challenge for our team off the back of an Ashes campaign.
“Kim Garth has had a remarkable cricketing journey to this point of her career. She’s worked incredibly hard to earn her place on this tour and there’s no doubt it will be a unique experience for her.
“Megan Schutt will return to Australia at the conclusion of the Ashes as part of a managed period of preparation for a full summer schedule.”
Australia Squad
Alyssa Healy – Captain (NSW/Sydney CC)
Darcie Brown (SA/Northern Districts CC)
Ashleigh Gardner (NSW/Bankstown CC)
Kim Garth (VIC/Dandenong CC)
Heather Graham (TAS/Clarence District CC)
Grace Harris (QLD/Western Suburbs CC)
Jess Jonassen (QLD/Valley Districts CC)
Alana King (WA/Midland Guildford CC)
Phoebe Litchfield (NSW/Penrith CC)
Tahlia McGrath (SA/Glenelg CC)
Beth Mooney (WA/Sandgate-Redcliffe CC)
Ellyse Perry (VIC/Dandenong CC)
Annabel Sutherland (VIC/Prahran CC)
Georgia Wareham (VIC/Essendon Maribyrnong Park CC)
Fixtures
23 July: First ODI, 10:45am, Castle Avenue, Dublin
25 July: Second ODI, 10:45am, Castle Avenue, Dublin
28 July: Third ODI, 10:45am, Castle Avenue, Dublin
*All times are local
Name of Author: Western Australia Cricket Association
WA Cricket, formerly known as the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA), is the governing body for cricket in Western Australia. Established on November 5, 1885, the WACA opened its iconic ground, the WACA Ground, in 1893.