Lauren Cheatle returns to the Australian side after a gap of neary five years. The left-arm quick makes it to Australia's Test squad against India on the back of an impressive outing in the WBBL09. Australia have named a 16-member squad for the mullti-format seven-match tour of India but are yet to announce a new full-time captain.
Having made her debut in 2016 as a 17-year-old, Cheatle's career was stalled by injuries. She has been named in an Australian squad for the first time since March 2019 after spearheading the Sydney Sixers attack, picking up 19 wickets across ten matches in the ongoing WBBL09 season. Earlier in June this year, Cheatle notched up 11 wickets in five games during the England tour of Australia 'A'.
Australia would be without Meg Lanning as the former captain announced her retirement from international cricket last week. Alyssa Healy, who took up the skipper's role in Lanning's absence previously, is currently nursing a finger injury and is being monitored. The full-time captain would be announced before the commencement of the tour.
Darcie Brown, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury for the last two ODIs against West Indies, has recovered and is back bowling. The pacer would be available for selection for the one-off Test match on December 21.
CA’s Head of Performance (Women’s Cricket) and National Selector, Shawn Flegler said, “A multi-format series against India in India is exciting and presents a huge challenge for our group. Most of our players, through last December’s bilateral series or the WPL, have played cricket in Mumbai over the past 12 months and have experienced the conditions. We’ll have an opportunity to acclimatise to the conditions and our preparation in Mumbai will include a warm-up match against a local opposition."
Speaking on Cheatle's return, Flegler said, “Lauren Cheatle has overcome significant injury setbacks and thoroughly deserves her place in the squad through her performances over the past six months. Lauren has playing experience in India and provides another fast-bowling option, particularly in regard to the Test match which is the format she has been selected for. At this stage, we’re planning for Lauren to return to Australia ahead of the white ball formats to play WNCL."
"Alyssa Healy’s finger is healing but remains in a splint and our medical team are continuing to monitor her recovery closely. We’re obviously very hopeful she will be available for the Test, but those decisions are still a while away. We have commenced the process to confirm an ongoing Captain appointment, which will be confirmed closer to the tour,” Flegler added.
Australia squad for the tour of India:
Alyssa Healy, Darcie Brown, Lauren Cheatle, Heather Graham, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris*, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham
*Test squad only
** T20I squad only
Fixtures:
December 21 to 24: Test Match, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Decmeber 28: 1st ODI, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
December 30: 2nd ODI, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
January 2: 3rd ODI, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
January 5: 1st T20I, DY Patil Stdium, Navi Mumbai
January 7: 2nd T20I, DY Patil Stdium, Navi Mumbai
January 9: 3rd T20I, DY Patil Stdium, Navi Mumbai
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