Spots up for grabs as Australia set to name T20 World Cup squad

Elyse Villani, Molly Strano, Belinda Vakarewa and Annabel Sutherland are among those under focus as Australia look to name their squads for the T20 World Cup 2020 as well as for the preceding tri-series featuring England and India.

Although Matthew Mott, the head coach,

indicated that Australia would stick to naming a full strength squad, he

admitted that there are some spots available for grabs. “Our top 12 will

probably pick themselves and (after that) you look at who are potentially good

impact players off the bench who can fill a couple of roles,” he said.

Villani was axed from the side in September

2019, but she has put her hand up for selection by churning out consistent

performances for Australia A as well as Victoria. Strano, the off-spinner, last

played for Australia in 2017 and was the leading wicket-taker in the fifth

season of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL).

Vakarewa, the pacer who has played an ODI, picked

up 20 wickets in the WBBL – the most by a seam bowler in the tournament, due to

which she is back in the reckoning. Uncapped Sutherland’s outings for Australia

A brought her into the reckoning, after coach Leah Poulton said that it’s a

matter of time before she makes it to the national side.

An excellent WBBL season also saw Jess Duffin come into the fray, before she ruled herself out by announcing her pregnancy. Erin Burns and Tayla Vlaeminck, who are sidelined from the Women’s National Cricket League due to injuries, will also available for selection.

According to Fox Sports, Annabel Sutherland is in line to be picked along with her Victorian team-mate, Sophie Molineux. The current T20 World Cup champions are set to name their squads on Thursday (January 16).