Cheatle returns as Australia bat first

Lauren Cheatle and Jess Jonassen have returned to Australia’s one-day international line-up, with the hosts batting first after New Zealand skipper Amy Satterthwaite won the toss at the WACA Ground.

Vice-captain Rachael Haynes will join Alyssa Healy at the top of Australia’s order for the first Commonwealth Bank ODI against the White Ferns, with Haynes filling the space left vacant by usual one-day opener Nicole Bolton, who is unavailable for this series.

Australia XI: Alyssa Healy (wk), Rachael Haynes, Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Elyse Villani, Ashleigh Gardner, Jess Jonassen, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt, Lauren Cheatle.

New Zealand XI: Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Lauren Brown, Amy Satterthwaite (c), Katey Martin, Katie Perkins, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, Rosemary Mair.

Australia will field a three-pronged pace attack featuring left-arm quick Cheatle – who last played for Australia in March 2017 – alongside spearhead Megan Schutt and allrounder Ellyse Perry.

But Australia have suffered a blow with Nicola Carey ruled out of the game with a lumbar spine disc injury, with the pace bowling allrounder flying to Adelaide ahead of the rest of the squad today in the hopes of recovering for Sunday’s second ODI.

Left-arm finger spinner Jonassen returns after missing last October’s ODIs against Pakistan through injury, while Elyse Villani also returns to the Australian XI, making her first 50-over appearance in green and gold since the 2017 Ashes.

New Zealand have included one-day debutant Rosemary Mair in their line-up after the quick impressed in her maiden T20 series against India earlier this month. 

There had been speculation in the lead-up to the match around who would partner the in-form Healy at the top of the order for the home side, with Beth Mooney the other leading candidate. 

Haynes, who returned to the Australian fold in early 2017 after almost four years out of the national side, has been batting in the middle-order since her return to international cricket but has vast experience against the new ball.

Haynes opens for both NSW and the Sydney Thunder, while she also came in at the top of the order on 17 occasions in the 28 innings she played between her debut in 2009 and the final game before her international hiatus in mid-2013 – a period that included her brilliant campaign during Australia’s successful 2013 World Cup in India, where she averaged 45.5.

Earlier this month, Haynes hit 79 at the top of the Breakers’ order to help steer NSW to their 20th WNCL title in the final against Queensland.

Cheatle returns after a torrid run of injuries, with Lanning excited about what she’d seen from the 20-year-old in the WACA nets this week.

“She’s in a really good spot, she’s bowling as quick as I’ve seen her,” Lanning said. “I faced her in the nets yesterday and she was swinging it and bowling with good pace which is always really exciting. 

“She’s really excited to be back around the group and we’re all really excited to have her back. 

“It’s obviously been a hard road for her over the last few years with some pretty serious injuries but she’s been very resilient throughout and it’s great reward for her to be back in the squad.”

Australia are aiming to continue a 19-year ODI series winning streak against New Zealand, but Lanning said her team wouldn’t underestimate New Zealand with the Rose Bowl trophy and ICC Women’s Championship points on the line.

"We know both sides match up really closely and a lot of those series it's been 1-all and we've been able to win the last game so it hasn't been easy series at all.".

CommBank ODIs v NZ 

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicola Carey, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Georgia Wareham

New Zealand squad: Amy Satterthwaite (c), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin, Katie Perkins, Anna Peterson, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu

February 22: First ODI, WACA Ground, Perth

February 24: Second ODI, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide

March 3: Third ODI, Junction Oval, Melbourne