Australia set to reveal Ashes squad

Australia could welcome back two key players and a rising star for their upcoming women’s Ashes campaign in the United Kingdom.

The squad for the multi-format, points-based series is expected to be named this week, after the Australian-contracted players completed a three-week camp at Brisbane’s Bupa National Cricket Centre last Friday.

Given Australia’s golden summer – which saw them complete ODI and T20I clean sweeps against Pakistan and New Zealand while also winning a fourth T20 World Cup title – a largely stable squad is expected to be named for the five-week tour, which will see the Ashes foes meet in three ODIs, one Test and three T20Is from July 2.

Among those training in Brisbane were opener Nicole Bolton and allrounder Sophie Molineux, who both missed the one-day international series against New Zealand in February and March.

Bolton missed the ODIs against the White Ferns due to personal reasons as she took a break from the game, while Molineux underwent surgery on her right shoulder after dislocating the joint during a Victorian practice session in February.

A left-arm spinner and exciting batter, Molineux was spotted bowling and batting in the NCC nets during the camp.

The 21-year-old is facing a race against time to prove her fitness for the Ashes campaign and told cricket.com.au last month she was throwing everything at her rehabilitation.

"It’s going really well, (the time has) gone pretty quick," Molineux said at the time.

"I’ve been doing the right things and I’m seeing how it’s feeling day by day."

Young right-arm quick Tayla Vlaeminck – who doesn’t hold a national contract but who was also training in Brisbane as part of the female National Performance Squad – has recovered from the knee injury that derailed her Rebel WBBL campaign and kept her out of the New Zealand ODI series.

Vlaeminck, part of Australia’s successful T20 World Cup squad, was bowling with impressive pace at the NCC as she pushed her credentials for a berth in Australia’s Ashes squad.

"I was pretty impressed watching Tayla Vlaeminck bowl in the nets, I think she could be a dark horse for the Ashes squad," Australia batter Beth Mooney said late last month.

"She looks like she's bowling with a bit of gas, and I was pretty lucky that I didn't have to face her in the nets as my first hit against bowlers."

For those who miss out on a spot in Australia’s Ashes touring party, a second opportunity exists with an Australia A squad to be named at the same time, for a UK tour that will run alongside the Ashes.

Australia A will play a series of 50-over and 20-over matches, while also taking on England in a three-day red-ball warm-up ahead of the Ashes Test.

With the squad likely to be made up of current international hopefuls and up-and-coming young guns, the ‘A’ squad will offer precious experience to the next generation while also offering flexibility to the Australians should senior players require extra game time, or if injury strikes.

It could also give Australia's 20-over specialists a chance to adjust to the conditions and gain time in the middle while their international teammates are focused on the ODIs and one-off Test.

CommBank Ashes Tour of England

First ODI Grace Road, Leicester, July 2

Second ODI Grace Road, Leicester, July 4

Third ODI St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury, July 7

Test The County Ground, Taunton, July 18-21

First T20 County Ground, Chelmsford, July 26

Second T20 The County Ground, Hove, July 28

Third T20 Bristol County Ground, Bristol, July 31

A Test victory is worth four points (two each for a draw), two points are awarded for ODI and T20 wins