Big Bash form forces Aussie rethink ahead of Ashes: Mott

Impressive Big Bash campaigns from some of Australia's uncapped or fringe players are forcing a re-think from national selectors ahead of the upcoming women's Ashes, head coach Matthew Mott says.

Australia's multi-format campaign against England will begin with a Test starting January 27, followed by three T20Is and three ODIs, and selectors will meet in early January to determine both their national squad, and an 'A' group to play England A.

The No.1 ranked Australians have typically fielded similar, if not identical, groups across the two limited-overs formats (and given women's Tests remain a rarity, they have few ‘specialists’ with the red ball).

That has been compounded since the start of the pandemic, with border closures and quarantine necessitating the selection of one huge squad to cover all formats.

However, the ever-growing depth of talent in the country, which was on display in the recent Weber WBBL, could trigger a change in approach going forward.

 

"That's the thing that probably excites the selectors more than anything, is if we can get that flexibility to genuinely pick each squad for each format … I don't think we've really been in that position before," Mott told cricket.com.au.

"I think that's a great sign for the depth that we've created in Australia, that we can do that.

"There's a number of players that did so well in the WBBL and it's forced the panel to say that we're now in a position where we can highly specialise our squads.

"It is a little bit dependent on how easy the movement will be between Australia and Australia A (with COVID restrictions) …  there's all sorts of things on the table at the moment, whether we just pick a Test squad to start with and then move from there, or if we name each format early.

"What we're not sure about at the moment is how much flexibility will we have to bring players in and out (of the squad), and what it looks like for players crossing over (from Australia A)."

Australia will be forced to make at least two changes when selecting their Ashes squad, with Sophie Molineux (foot) and Georgia Wareham (ACL) to miss the series, while Megan Schutt and Jess Jonassen will return after missing the September-October matches against India.

Some of Australia's biggest names also struggled for form through WBBL|07, but there are unlikely to be wholesale changes to a core group that has claimed two T20 World Cups in the past three years and won a world record 26 ODIs in a row.

This is particularly true of the 50-over format, given the ODI World Cup will immediately follow the Ashes – an event Australia have been planning for and building towards for five years.

But the T20 leg of the Ashes could present an opportunity for evolution, with the Commonwealth Games to be held in July and August, and the next T20 World Cup in South Africa a little over 12 months away.

"I think there have been some really good performances from players outside of the (national) group," Mott said.

"That's what we want, we want to have those tough conversations as a selection group.

"But what we need to remember as well is that our squad has served us extremely well over the last couple of years.

"There has to be an opportunity, and someone has to have given up that opportunity that's been performing (for Australia).

"It's going to be really tight. But as I said, I think it's now getting to that point where we see that there's some real specialist opportunities for some players to potentially push some of the incumbents in the different formats."

Katie Mack, Georgia Redmayne, Amanda-Jade Wellington and Alana King are among those who thrust up their hands for selection during WBBL|07.

The three T20 'A' matches will be played during the one-off Test at Manuka Oval, presenting a chance for those in the secondary squad to push for higher Ashes honours later in the series.

The start of the domestic 50-over season earlier this month has also offered a chance to impress, however with a number of matches postponed, some players will have little opportunity to showcase their one-day talent before the Ashes squad is selected.

South Australia and ACT Meteors will not play their first games of the season until the first week of January, while Western Australia will not be able to begin their WNCL season until mid-February – denying leg-spinner Alana King her chance to impress in the one-day format.

"It's very important opportunity in the WNCL for players to put their hand up, and for those outside the squad to confirm in that different format that they've got the game to play at the international level as well," Mott said.

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes v England

Jan 27-30: Test match, Manuka Oval

Feb 4: First T20, North Sydney Oval

Feb 6: Second T20, North Sydney Oval

Feb 10: Third T20, Adelaide Oval

Feb 13: First ODI, Adelaide Oval

Feb 16: Second ODI, Junction Oval

Feb 19: Third ODI, Junction Oval