Australia announce 14-member squad for New Year match, star player ruled out after suffering knee injury against India

Nikhil

Nikhil

UPDATED:

Australia announce 14-member squad for New Year match, star player ruled out after suffering knee injury against India
A general view of the Women's Ashes Trophy during a Women's Ashes series media opportunity at Manuka Oval on January 26, 2022 in Canberra, Australia.

Story Highlights:

Australia announce 14-member squad.

The women's Ashes series will start in January 2025.

Alyssa Healy will be making a return.

Australia announced a formidable 14-member Women's Ashes squad on Saturday. Sophie Molineux, a spin bowling all-rounder, is out because of a knee issue. According to Australian women's physiotherapist Kate Beerworth, Molineux will have surgery on her left knee and a call will be made when she returns. During the home series against India, the left-arm spinner suffered an injury. For the three-match T20I series, Grace Harris will be the lone addition to the team.

Cricket Australia’s national selector on the Australian squad

Cricket Australia's Head of Performance and National Selector, Shawn Flegler, expressed satisfaction with the team's recent results against New Zealand and India. Alyssa Healy's comeback against the White Ferns, after missing the series against India, also delighted him.

ALSO READ: 'He's got every shot in the book': Australia star pacer couldn't stop himself from praising Nitish Kumar Reddy following heroic century in MCG Test

"We’re pleased with how the side performed in recent series against India and New Zealand and are confident we have a balanced squad capable of retaining the Ashes. It was pleasing to see Alyssa Healy return to action against New Zealand and looked in good touch, along with a number of batters continuing their strong form on from the recent series against India," Fleger said.

The selector also praised Georgia Voll, who recently made her debut in the ODI series against India.

"Whilst Georgia Voll didn’t play against New Zealand, she’s made a brilliant start to her international career and will be a strong option with the bat if required in her debut Ashes series," said the selector

The much-awaited Women’s Ashes series is all set to start on January 12 with a three-match ODI series. The last two ODIs will be played on January 14 and 17. Then it will be the time for the T20I series which will also feature three matches and will be played on January 20, 23 and 25. The Day-Night Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground will conclude the iconic series and will start on starts on January 30.

Australia women's squad

Alyssa Healy, Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris (T20s only), Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham