Villani shelves anger over axing with Stars in her sights

Elyse Villani says she’s forced herself to move past her anger at being axed from the Australian squad, as she focuses her attention on captaining new club Melbourne Stars in the first standalone Rebel WBBL season.

Villani was part of Australia’s squad for the multi-format Ashes that toured the United Kingdom in July but couldn’t break into the XI through the seven-match series.

She was then left out of the 14-player group that toured the West Indies in September before hosting Sri Lanka earlier this month.

With a T20 World Cup to be played on Australian soil next February and March, Villani – who played 99 matches in the green and gold since her debut in 2009 – could be forgiven for having her mind firmly on using the domestic T20 tournament to win back her spot in the national side.

But the 30-year-old is adamant that’s a mindset she can’t allow herself to get into.

"To be honest, (being dropped) is something I’ve been quite angry about over the last couple of months," Villani told cricket.com.au on Thursday.

"I was just really disappointed from a personal point of view, but I’ve moved past that emotion now.

"It’s not something I can afford to focus on, I think it’s quite detrimental to yourself as a player and to any club you’re a part of.

"I’m certainly really passionate about leading the Stars really well this season and on being the best player I can possibly be for this team, so that’s the only thing at the forefront of my mind moving forward.

"I can’t control selection or what will happen, and so it’s not something I’ll waste energy or time thinking too much about."

Australia romped through their tour of the West Indies undefeated before maintaining a clean sheet in three T20Is and three ODIs against Sri Lanka, including a record-breaking 18th consecutive one-day win.

Villani tuned into the series – and even joined the Seven Network’s Commentary team during the ODIs in Brisbane despite admitting she found it difficult to find herself on the other side of the fence at times – saying she drew solace from fellow Australian absentee and Victorian teammate Sophie Molineux, who missed the tours as she recovered from a shoulder injury.

"Soph and I had each other to lean on during that period; obviously for different reasons but it’s never a nice feeling whether you’re injured or dropped to be on the outer after being in the inner sanctum for so long,” she said.

"The support back in Victoria (was also important), I have amazing teammates and support staff."

Villani, who moved to the Stars after spending the first four editions of the WBBL with the Perth Scorchers, has taken over the captaincy from good friend and former Australian leg-spinner Kristen Beams, who has declared this WBBL season will be her last.

"I think it’ll be a really great challenge for myself,” she said as she looks to take the Stars into the finals for the first time.

“It’s something I really enjoy and personally it’s beneficial to my own game because it means I’m not overthinking batting as well, which is really helpful.

"It gives me something to focus on. Taking over from Kristen Beams, who is a really good mate of mine, those are pretty big shoes to fill but I feel honoured to be in the role."

Beams was also a driving force in luring Villani to the Stars from the Scorchers.

Villani relocated to her home state last year, but remained contracted to Perth until the end of WBBL|04.

"I had a meeting with both the Stars and the Renegades and both are really good clubs," she said.

"I would have been lucky to be a part of either, but Beamsy is such a good mate of mine and I wanted to play with her again, while the leadership opportunity is something that was discussed as well.

"The fantastic work (coach David) Hemp and Beamsy have been doing with the culture at the Stars is also something I’m looking forward to being a part of."

Villani joins a batting-heavy four-player marquee group at the Stars for WBBL|05 that also features big-hitting South African pair Lizelle Lee and Mignon du Preez, and New Zealand’s Katey Martin.

But there are serious injury clouds hanging over the club, with batter Angela Reakes struck by an achilles injury and pace bowler Holly Ferling suffering from a pelvic, while Alana King and Lucy Cripps will miss the opening two matches due to thumb and tendon ailments respectively.

The availability of rising allrounder Annabel Sutherland could also be patchy as she undertakes her Year 12 exams.

The Stars skipper is not shying away from the challenges facing her side, but remains optimistic.

"We’ve got a bit of a mix, we’ve got some really good young talent coming though and some experienced players," she said.

"We’re going to have to play our roles individually really well to be successful as a club.

"Perhaps on paper we don’t match up as well as other teams, but you don’t play teams on paper.

"I think we’re going to have to be really well planned and field really well, but I think we can be a consistent T20 side this season."

The Stars begin their season on home turf this Saturday against the Hurricanes at Junction Oval at 2pm AEDT, with a rematch to be played at the same venue, at the same time on Sunday.