Graham Croker
Universities Women’s Cricket Club has three representatives in the 14-player Australian side announced yesterday to take on India in one Test and five one-day internationals in Sydney and Canberra later this month and in November.
Twins Alex and Kate Blackwell and Lisa Sthalekar are in the squad which will be captained by Karen Rolton. She will be assisted by a leadership group that includes Alex Blackwell (vice-captain), Sthalekar (the former vice-captain) and Shelley Nitschke.
“With the 2009 ICC Women’s World Cup rapidly approaching (in NSW and the ACT in March), we will be watching this series against India with high interest,” Australia’s chief selector Margaret Jennings said.
“India is a team quickly improving and it should be a terrific test of our group and a good test to have about six months out from women’s cricket’s showcase tournament.”
The Australia-India series includes a Twenty20 game on October 28 followed by five one-day internationals.
“Since the Rose Bowl series (against New Zealand) in March we haven’t played a lot of cricket so this series will be a great opportunity for the team to have a solid hit-out against quality opposition in the lead-up to the WNCL (national league) getting under way in November,” recently appointed national women’s coach Richard McInnes said.
Australia’s squad: Karen Rolton (capt), Alex Blackwell, Kate Blackwell, Leonie Coleman, Lauren Ebsary, Sarah Edwards, Jodie Fields, Delissa Kimmince, Shelley Nitschke, Ellyse Perry, Kirsten Pike, Leah Poulton, Emma Sampson, Lisa Sthalekar.
Schedule:
Wednesday Oct 22: Australia under-21 v India at Bankstown Oval (50 overs).
Friday Oct 24: Aust v Aust under-21 at Bankstown Oval (50 overs).
Saturday Oct 25: NSW v India at Bowral (50 overs).
Monday Oct 27: Aust v Aust under-21 at Bankstown Oval (Twenty20).
Tuesday Oct 28: Aust v India at Hurstville Oval (Twenty20).
One-Day Internationals:
Friday Oct 31: Aust v India at Hurstville Oval.
Saturday Nov 1: Aust v India at SCG.
Wednesday Nov 5: Aust v India at North Sydney Oval.
Saturday Nov 8: Aust v India at Manuka Oval.
Sunday Nov 9: Aust v India at Manuka Oval.
