The Cricket Australia National Selection Panel (NSP) has announced the following 14-player squad for the Commonwealth Bank Tour of the West Indies:
Erin Burns (New South Wales)
Nicola Carey (Tasmania)
Ashleigh Gardner (New South Wales)
Heather Graham (Western Australia)
Rachael Haynes (vc) (New South Wales)
Alyssa Healy (New South Wales)
Jess Jonassen (Queensland)
Delissa Kimmince (Queensland)
Meg Lanning (c) (Victoria)
Beth Mooney (Queensland)
Ellyse Perry (Victoria)
Megan Schutt (South Australia)
Tayla Vlaeminck (Victoria)
Georgia Wareham (Victoria)
All-rounders Heather Graham and Erin Burns have been included in their first Australian side having both toured England with Australia's 'A' side in July.
Australia and the West Indies will contest three One-Day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals, with ICC Women's Championship points up for grabs in the three 50-over fixtures.
Australia is in second spot on the ladder just one win behind England having played six less matches than the World Cup champions, with the top four teams at the end of the Championship gaining direct qualification to the ICC Women's World Cup 2021 in New Zealand.
Speaking on the selection of Graham and Burns in the squad, National Selector Shawn Flegler said:
"We are really confident in the 14 players that have been chosen and are excited to be able to give both Heather and Erin the chance to tour with Australia for the first time.
"Heather was named the Domestic Player of the Year last season and was a member of the National Performance Squad as well as Australia's 'A' tour to England, so we know exactly what she is capable of with both bat and ball.
"Her skills with the ball will add further depth to the team's pace bowling stocks while her batting ability could see her play an important role in the middle-order.
"Erin has also been a standout performer at domestic level and has had to bide her time for a national call-up. A handy middle-order batter, her off-spin will help to fill the void created by the omission of Sophie Molineux.
"These selections reinforce our desire to select players with a view to the T20 World Cup next year who offer versatility, can play a designated role and offer skills in a number of different facets of the game.
Speaking on the omission of Elyse Villani, Nicole Bolton and Sophie Molineux, Flegler said:
"Elyse unfortunately couldn't force her way into the playing XI in the recent Ashes series and the selection panel believes the first round of WNCL is an ideal opportunity for her to redefine her batting and present a strong case for selection ahead of a busy summer.
"Nicole has made herself unavailable for selection and we are working closely with her and the WACA to provide her the support she needs as she continues to manage her health.
"Sophie will also miss the tour to give her the opportunity to focus on her shoulder rehab after a large workload over the last seven weeks. With a big season ahead including the World Cup its important she gets her body 100% right and this break will hopefully allow her to do that."
The squad will travel to Antigua on Tuesday 28 August and play an intra-squad match before the first ODI on 5 September.
Fixture
One-Day Internationals*
5 September – West Indies v Australia, Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua
8 September – West Indies v Australia, Sir Viv Richards Ground, Antigua
11 September – West Indies v Australia, Sir Viv Richards Ground, Antigua
*ICC Women's Championship matches
Twenty20 Internationals
14 September – West Indies v Australia, Kensington Oval, Barbados
16 September – West Indies v Australia, Kensington Oval, Barbados
18 September – West Indies v Australia, Kensington Oval, Barbados
