Rachael Haynes, Megan Schutt and Jess Jonassen return for the multi-format series
Australia have needed to rejig their spin attack for the Ashes with Wareham sidelined for up to a year after suffering an ACL injury in the WBBL. Left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux will also be absent with a stress fracture of her foot but the hope remains she will be available for the World Cup.
“The loss of Georgia Wareham to injury has presented Alana King with a great opportunity to show what she can do at this level and having improved in all facets of her game over the last few seasons, she’s well placed to play an important role in the series,” national selector Shawn Flegler said.
“As expected, Sophie Molineux will miss this series due to the stress fracture in her right foot that she suffered at the back end of the WBBL, but we’ll continue to monitor her in the lead up to the World Cup with the aim that’s she’s available for that tournament.
Maitlan Brown, Stella Campbell, Georgia Redmayne and Molly Strano, who were part of the India squad, will feature for Australia A in a concurrent series against England A. Movement between the two squads will be difficult given the tight biosecure restrictions the Ashes will be played under in order to protect players ahead of the ODI World Cup.
“The ‘A’ side was selected with an eye on the future as well as ensuring we have a number of players who can come straight into the Australian side and a play a role if required,” Flegler said. “It’s great to see the likes of Elyse Villani and Grace Harris return to Australian colours as well as Heather Graham, Erin Burns and Amanda-Jade Wellington, while Katie Mack had a really strong WBBL and has been in good form for a while now.”
Australia squad Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Meg Lanning (capt), Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck
Australia A squad Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Phoebe Litchfield, Katie Mack, Georgia Redmayne (capt), Courtney Sippel Molly Strano, Elyse Villani, Georgia Voll, Amanda-Jade Wellington
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo