Haynes excited with Australia women’s Ashes squad

Australia have selected their ODI and Test squads for the upcoming Women’s Ashes against England that starts later this month.

Lauren Cheatle and Tahlia McGrath have been recalled to the Australia 50-overs team after missing out on World Cup selection earlier this year.

There are six uncapped players in the Test squad – Cheatle, McGrath, Belinda Vakarewa, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner – as the two squads look almost identical.

The team will be led by Rachael Haynes after Meg Lanning was forced to miss the series with a shoulder injury.

Haynes said on Tuesday “I’m really excited about the final squad that has come together.

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“I think it is really well-balanced and it’s going to be pretty hard to pick the final XI on the day… I think we’re coming into the Ashes series in some really good form.

“I feel very confident in my ability to lead the team and it’s great that there are so many good senior players around the group as well, who can contribute in that environment.

“The likes of Ellyse Perry and Alex Blackwell who will be vice-captain, Alyssa Healy, Elyse Villani who is captain for WA, I think there is a really great balance in the team and I will draw on that experience as well.”

The Women’s Ashes is decided by a points system that is accumulated across all three formats, with three ODIs, three T20Is and one Test to be played.

The three ODIs will be played on 22, 26 and 29 October. They will be followed by the day-night Test from 9 to 12 November and three T20Is on 17, 19, 21 November.

Australia squads for the 2017-18 Ashes:

ODI squad: Kristen Beams, Alex Blackwell, Nicole Bolton, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes (capt), Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

Test squad: Kristen Beams, Alex Blackwell, Nicole Bolton, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes (capt), Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington