Australia Women’s A to face India Women’s A in Queensland this August

A multi-format women’s A series across Queensland in August will kick-start the Australian summer that will see the home team take on four separate Indian sides over the course of the season. The Australian Women’s Team will face India in the ODI Series in December, while a men’s A series will be followed by the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy Series beginning in November.

National selectors have named three separate squads for the women’s A series that will feature a trio of T20s in Brisbane, three 50-over matches in Mackay and a four-day clash on the Gold Coast.

Australia vice-captain Tahlia McGrath will captain the T20 and 50-over squads and will be joined in the white-ball matches by fellow national pace bowlers Kim Garth, Megan Schutt and Tayla Vlaeminck.

A host of domestic stars will get the chance to push their case for higher honours throughout the series, including Queensland’s Charli Knott and Victorian, Nicole Faltum who will take on leadership responsibilities alongside McGrath.

“I’m really looking forward to being a part of this series and for the challenge that India A will pose. It presents those of us not playing in The Hundred with the chance to prepare for a huge summer against a strong opposition,” said McGrath.

The Great Barrier Reef Arena will once again host A team matches. Following the recent announcement of the T20 Women’s International series featuring Australia and New Zealand, these matches underscore the arena’s capability to attract high-calibre international events that will benefit the Mackay region and the broader community, Cricket Australia statement said.

“It’s great to be able to welcome yet another Indian side to our shores for what’s going to be an exciting summer. We’ve seen some tough battles between the two countries in the past, especially in Mackay, and I expect this series to be no different. This series will allow us to take a closer look at some of the players who have impressed at domestic level while giving the nationally contracted players the chance to fine tune their preparations ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup,” said National Selector, Shawn Flegler.

Schedule

7 August: First T20, 1pm, Allan Border Field

9 August: Second T20, 1pm, Allan Border Field

11 August: Third T20, 1pm, Allan Border Field

14 August: First 50-over match, 9:30am, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay

16 August: Second 50-over match, 1:20pm, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay

18 August: Third 50-over match, 1:20pm, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay

22-25 August: Four-day match, 9:30am, Gold Coast District Cricket Club

Australia A Squads

T20 squad: Maddy Darke, Sophie Day, Nicole Faltum (wk), Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Charli Knott (vc), Katie Mack, Tahlia McGrath (c), Grace Parsons, Megan Schutt, Courtney Sippel, Tayla Vlaeminck, Tahlia Wilson

One-day squad: Maitlan Brown (2nd and 3rd matches only), Maddy Darke, Sophie Day, Nicole Faltum (wk), Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Charli Knott (vc), Katie Mack, Tahlia McGrath (c), Grace Parsons, Megan Schutt (1st match only), Courtney Sippel, Tayla Vlaeminck, Tahlia Wilson

Four-day squad: Maitlan Brown, Maddy Darke (wk), Sophie Day, Emma de Broughe, Nicole Faltum (vc), Tess Flintoff, Charli Knott (c), Katie Mack, Lilly Mills, Grace Parsons, Kate Peterson, Courtney Sippel, Georgia Voll