On January 26, Cricket Australia announced the World Cup squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup to be played in New Zealand from March 4 to April 3.
Squad: Meg Lanning (captain), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington
Spin twins Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham and speedster Tayla Vlaeminck are not a part of the World Cup squad, while Grace Harris and Amanda Jade Wellington make the cut. Alana King is the other player who has found a place in Australia’s 15-member World Cup squad after showing impressive skills in her maiden T20I that she played against England on January 20.
Squad profile
Meg Lanning:
The Australian captain will be the leader of the pack. In 2020, she led her team to the World T20 title. Come 2022, she will be eyeing the 50-over World Cup. She was a part of the Australian team that won the 2013 World Cup. With an experience of 88 ODIs and close to 4000 ODI runs, Australia’s batting will revolve around the captain.
Darcie Brown:
The right arm seamer can swing the new ball and has a good bouncer in her armoury. She is still new in her international career with just three ODIs under her belt. She has picked up five ODI wickets, including the best of 4-33. Prior to playing for the senior Australian team, she featured for Australia U-19.
Nicola Carey:
She is a bowling all-rounder, who is a right-arm pacer and a right-handed batter. She has featured in 20 ODIs for Australia since her international debut in 2018. She has accounted for 16 wickets in 19 innings, including the best of 3-19. With the bat, she averages 25.50 and has 153 runs in 11 innings. She is more than a handy lower middle-order bat.
Ashleigh Gardner:
She is a batting all-rounder. Known for her attacking batting style, she is a hard hitter of a cricket ball. Apart from her powerful batting, she is more than a handy right-arm-off spinner. She can open the bowling as well as bowl in the middle overs. She has played 39 ODIs for Australia, scored 528 runs and picked up 43 wickets.
Grace Harris:
The right-handed batter was called in as a replacement for Beth Mooney during the Women’s Ashes for the three-match T20I series. She was a part of the playing XI every time Australia played in the series, but did not get a chance to bat. Last year, she had a prolific WBBL season, with 420 runs in 14 innings, including four half-centuries. She has already played nine ODIs for Australia before the start of this year’s Women’s Ashes.
Rachael Haynes:
The vice captain of the Australian team is a solid top order bat and an electric fielder. The southpaw is an experienced campaigner having been around at the international level since 2009. She has featured in 65 ODIs and has over 2000 ODI runs. She was a part of the 2013 World Cup winning side.
Alyssa Healy:
The right handed batter and wicket-keeper is one of the devastating batters in the world of women’s cricket. She has the ability to single handedly take the game away from the opposition. With 82 ODIs under her belt, she has muscled 2000+ODI runs at a strike rate of more than 100. She has three centuries and 13 half centuries to her name. Behind the stumps she is one of the safest houses, accounting for 81 ODI dismissals.
Jess Jonassen:
The left arm spinner will be the leader of the Australian spin attack. In the absence of Georgia Wareham and Sophie Molineux, Australia will want Jonassen to lead young spinners in Alana King and Amanda Jade Wellington. She has featured in 74 ODIs and scalped 113 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls. She can bowl with the new ball too.
Alana King:
The leg spinner, after an impressive WBBL last year, earned her maiden international call for the Women’s Ashes. In the absence of Georgia Wareham, King is the closest proxy as she has similar bowling style and approach as Wareham. Apart from her bowling, she is more than a handy customer with the bat lower down the order. She is a good fielder too.
Tahlia McGrath:
The all-rounder is a young promising talent. She is a right handed top order bat and a right arm seamer. Her abilities to contribute with both bat and ball make her a complete utility player. She made her international debut in 2016 and since then has been a regular member of the Australian squad.
Beth Mooney:
The left handed middle batter will be key for Australia in the middle overs. She has been playing international cricket since 2016 and since then has been a regular member of the squad. She has a couple of centuries and nine half centuries in her 44 ODIs career so far. Early this year, she suffered from a jaw fracture. It will be interesting to see how she performs in the World Cup given that she will be coming back from injury.
Ellyse Perry:
The star Australian all-rounder is one of the all time greats in Australian women’s cricket. Her incredible contributions with both bat and ball for more than a decade makes her a fit in any world team. She is a solid middle order bat and can bowl with the new ball too. With more than 100 ODIs under her belt, she boasts of a wealth of experience.
Megan Schutt:
The pace spearhead will lead the Australian fast bowling attack. She was a part of the 2013 World Cup winning Australian squad. She is an experienced new ball bowler and can swing the ball well. She is a genuine wicket-taker and one of the most successful bowlers of Australia. She has been around at the international level for a decade and has featured in 65 ODIs, accounting for 99 wickets.
Annabel Sutherland:
The Australian all-rounder made her ODI debut in 2020 against New Zealand. She is a right arm seamer and a right handed batter. She is known for her consistent bowling lines and lengths. With the bat, she has the reputation of being a hard hitting player.
Amanda-Jade Wellington:
The wily leg spinner was the most successful bowler in the WBBL that was played last year. With 23 wickets in 17 matches, she made a strong case for herself ahead of the World Cup. Though she was not picked for the Women’s Ashes, she was a part of the Australia A that played England A concurrently with the Ashes. Her inclusion in the World Cup squad will strengthen Australia’s spin attack.
I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.