Cricket Australia announce 15-member squad for Women's Ashes 2023

Cricket Australia announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming 2023 Women's Ashes. The multi-format series between Australia and England is scheduled to begin on June 22 in Nottingham. Australia’s tour to England features one Test, three Twenty 20 Internationals (T20Is), and as many ODIs.

Teenager Phoebe Litchfield received her maiden call-up for the Ashes tour. The 19-year-old batter has scored back-to-back fifties in her first two ODIs against Pakistan in January this year. She is included in the squad instead of all-rounder Heather Graham. Notably, Graham has been named in Australia A squad and will be touring England alongside the Ashes squad.

All-rounder Kim Garth is also expected to make her debut in the longest format of the game after being named in Australia's Ashes Test squad. The 26-year-old cricketer recently participated in the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) for the Gujarat Giants Women. She produced an impressive performance throughout the tournament, claiming 11 wickets from seven matches, including a remarkable five-wicket haul in the first game.

Meanwhile, Australia will be captained by Meg Lanning who led the side to another T20 World Cup in South Africa in February. She also led the Delhi Capitals Women to the inaugural WPL final. Despite losing the final against Mumbai Indians Women, the 31-year-old batter has ended her WPL campaign by being the leading run-scorer with 345 runs.

Cricket Australia national team selector Shawn Flegler said that the selection committee have named a squad similar to the one which won the T20 World Cup. He also said that the board sees Litchfield as a long-term player for the side.

“Following the success of the side at the recent T20 World Cup, the focus now turns to the exciting challenge of retaining the Ashes away from home. We’ve been fortunate to have a consistent side across all formats over the past couple of years, and as a result, we have selected a similar group to the squad which won the T20 World Cup in February. Phoebe Litchfield has taken her game to the next level in the past 12 months, we view her as a long-term player for Australia, and it’s pleasing to reward her progress with selection in an Ashes squad,” Shawn Flegler was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (captain), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy (wicketkeeper), Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham

Australia A squad: Maitlan Brown, Lauren Cheatle, Maddy Darke, Heather Graham, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Charli Knott, Kate Peterson, Courtney Sippel, Tayla Vlaeminck, Courtney Webb, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Tahlia Wilson