Perry to bowl for stable Stars

The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars selectors have shown supreme confidence in the side that swept Pakistan in August and September, naming near identical one-day international and Twenty20 International squads for their upcoming series against the West Indies.

The Australians opted for minor changes to the side that won all their matches against the world number eight Pakistan, with Elyse Villani coming in for the one-dayers at the expense of allrounder Delissa Kimmince, and leg-spinner Kristen Beams replaces VicSpirit teammate and opening quick Julie Hunter in the T20 team.

Ellyse Perry has recovered fully from a knee injury and is set to resume fast-bowling duties which, in turn, sees the omission of 2013 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup leading wicket-taker Megan Schutt from the ODI squad.

The Southern Stars will come up against a team on the rise in the West Indies, with the world number two outfit coming off a clean sweep of their own against a the highly-fancied New Zealand.

“(The West Indies) are a really dynamic side who can produce some very good cricket,” Southern Stars captain Meg Lanning told cricket.com.au.

“They play a different style of cricket to us – they’re really athletic in the field and probably do things that other nations can’t.

“But the West Indies probably haven’t played over in Australia a lot and we’re really used to these conditions.

“It’s going to be about our bowlers and batters maximising that (advantage) and making sure we really start off well and set the platform for a good series.”

The West Indies currently sit atop the newly implemented ICC International Women’s Championship, one position ahead of the Southern Stars on runs-wickets differential.

The top four sides at the end of the two-year cycle will earn automatic qualification for the 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup while the bottom four sides will compete against the world’s top Associate nations for the remaining World Cup berths.

Before the 50-over action gets underway however, the Southern Stars will face off against their Caribbean rivals in four T20 fixtures – three of which will be played as double-headers with the Australia men’s matches against South Africa.

In a boon for cricket fans, those three matches will be broadcast live on GEM, with the remaining T20I and four ODIs to be streamed on cricket.com.au.

Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars T20 squad:

Meg Lanning (C) VIC, Alex Blackwell (VC) NSW, Kristen Beams VIC, Jess Cameron VIC, Sarah Coyte NSW, Rene Farrell ACT, Alyssa Healy NSW, Jess Jonassen QLD, Delissa Kimmince QLD, Erin Osborne NSW, Ellyse Perry NSW, Megan Schutt SA, Elyse Villani VIC.

Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars ODI squad:

Meg Lanning (C) VIC, Alex Blackwell (VC) NSW, Kristen Beams VIC, Nicole Bolton VIC,  Jess Cameron VIC,  Sarah Coyte NSW, Rene Farrell ACT, Alyssa Healy NSW, Julie Hunter VIC, Jess Jonassen QLD, Erin Osborne NSW, Ellyse Perry NSW, Elyse Villani VIC.

West Indies touring squad:

Merissa Aguilleira (C), Stafanie Taylor (VC),  Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Subrina Munroe, Shaquana Quintyne, Tremayne Smartt, Shakera Selman.