Meg Lanning and Alyssa Healy will spearhead Australia’s T20 World Cup title defence next month in South Africa after the pair were named in a 15-player squad despite missing recent matches.
Lanning, who took an extended break from the game after the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last year, is back on the field and performing well, having made scores of 29 and 61 for Victoria in the WNCL.
She didn’t take part in the WBBL or Australia’s T20 tour of India late last year.
Selectors announced on Tuesday morning that Lanning would not only captain Australia in three upcoming T20s against Pakistan, starting January 24, but also for the T20 World Cup that follows in South Africa next month.
The other major bit of good news for cricket fans is the inclusion of Healy, who suffered a calf injury in December.
Healy will miss next week’s one-day series against Pakistan, which precedes the three T20s, but selectors are confident she will be fit for the upcoming 20-over matches.
Meg Lanning and Alyssa Healy celebrate World Cup victory in Christchurch.Credit:Getty Images
Healy, one of Australia’s most destructive players in the shortest format, was the team’s second highest run-scorer in the last T20 World Cup in 2020.
Australia beat India at the MCG in front of 86,174 spectators, just days before COVID-19 prompted nationwide lockdowns.
Leg-spinner Georgia Wareham has recovered from an ACL injury and will join fellow tweakers Alana King and Jess Jonassen in the squad.
Meanwhile, Nicola Carey, Phoebe Litchfield and Amanda-Jade Wellington have all missed selection for the World Cup that begins on February 12 against New Zealand in South Africa.
Australian squad for Pakistan series and T20 World Cup
- Meg Lanning (c)
- Alyssa Healy (vc)
- Darcie Brown
- Ashleigh Gardner
- Kim Garth
- Heather Graham
- Grace Harris
- Jess Jonassen
- Alana King
- Tahlia McGrath
- Beth Mooney
- Ellyse Perry
- Megan Schutt
- Annabel Sutherland
- Georgia Wareham
Carey has been a key figure for the Australian team in recent years but has been overlooked for Kim Garth, while Litchfield, one of the most exciting young batters in the country, has been left out following a knock of 11 in her T20 international debut last month against India.
“Seeing Meg and Georgia back in action for Victoria has been exciting. Both bring a wealth of experience to the group, which is always crucial during major tournaments,” said national selector Shawn Flegler.
“Georgia in particular, has had a tough run of injuries, but she’s shown a great deal of resilience and her return is a real boost for the side.
“Alyssa and Jess are expected to be fully fit and firing after minor injuries as well, so we’ve got a full strength squad with plenty of variety with both bat and ball if required.
“Unfortunately, there was no room for Nicola, Phoebe or Amanda-Jade, but they’re still well and truly in our plans and are on standby should they be required.”
Australia are undefeated in their last 15 T20 internationals and have won five of seven T20 World Cups on offer.
Matches against Pakistan
16 January: 1st ODI, 10:05am, Allan Border Field, Brisbane
18 January: 2nd ODI, 10:05am, Allan Border Field, Brisbane
21 January: 3rd ODI, 10:05am, North Sydney Oval, Sydney
24 January: 1st T20I, 2:05pm, North Sydney Oval, Sydney
26 January: 2nd T20I, 7:05pm, Blundstone Arena, Hobart
29 January: 3rd T20I, 2:05pm, Manuka Oval, Canberra
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