King's coronation complete with impressive debut

In mid-2019, Alana King was asked where she wanted to see herself in five years.

Her response was immediate and clear: as a member of the Australian cricket team.

On Thursday night, King ticked off that goal 2.5 years ahead of schedule, becoming the 57th woman to play a T20 International for the green and gold.

There was no easing into it, either; King was thrown the ball in the eighth over with England's openers on a rampage at 0-62, and she had just watched fellow spinner Jess Jonassen – one of the most experienced members of the Australia XI – be dispatched for consecutive sixes straight down the ground.

But any doubts the 26-year-old could hold her own at the top level were quickly dismissed and in her second over, with just her seventh ball in international cricket, she secured the key breakthrough.

"It was exciting to get that caught and bowled to get my first international (wicket), and just exciting to break that partnership that was building quite nicely for England," King said on Friday morning.

"I was just trying to jam Tammy (Beaumont) up a little bit and I was glad that she got that leading edge … it actually came to me a bit slower than expected and sometimes you actually drop those ones because you're expecting them a lot quicker, but it popped up nicely and was a nice easy catch.

"I don't shy away from a contest.

"So when Meg threw me the ball I just knew that I could back myself in and back my skills that I could have an impact on the game."

King's vast experience in the WBBL, where she has regularly been either pitted against, or played alongside, England's biggest names no doubt smoothed the transition.

She beat out fellow leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington for the vacant spot in Australia's Ashes squad, with selectors explaining her similarities to the injured Georgia Wareham handed her the edge.

In recent seasons, King has worked to improve on those key skills, first at the Melbourne Stars, then Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers, aiming to attack the stumps to become a more aggressive T20 wicket-taker, and adding pace and control to her natural ability to find big turn.

It was a process that started during her time in the National Performance Squad in 2019, where she first worked with Australia assistant coach Shelley Nitschke, and the knowledge she gained from the former spin-bowling allrounder played a significant role in her decision to move to the Scorchers.

"It's been a big dream of mine to put on the green and gold for Australia, and I think the big move west (from Victoria) has really helped in my development and just getting me a bit out of my comfort zone away from family," King said.

"Working with Shell a couple of years ago in the NPS program, I learned a lot from her in a short amount of time and then being given the opportunity to work with her at the Scorchers this year was just tremendous for me.

"I got to pick her brain about different things, whether it's bowling or how to bowl in different situations, so I've just loved having Shell in my corner."

Leading into the Ashes, both Jonassen and Nitschke – who presented King with her cap on Thursday – had expressed their hopes international cricket would not rob King of her trademark swagger.

Their fears were unfounded; when King delivered her first ball at 7.14pm Adelaide time, she did so wearing her trademark sunglasses.

"Shell's a big believer in making sure I'm being myself, and I don't choose to be anyone else," King said.

"I'm backing myself, backing my skills and making sure that I've done all the work (at training) … then going out there, having fun and doing it with a big smile on my face."

Just hours before King made her international debut, Wellington was putting on a show for Australia A at Karen Rolton Oval, claiming 3-15 to help her side to victory over England A.

King believes the competition is healthy and will continue to drive her own game to new levels.

"I think it's great for Australian cricket.

"If there's competition for a couple of spots, it actually brings the best out of each other.

"Wello's doing really well and I'm really happy for her that she's still taking poles."

King's cap presentation was a special moment in more ways than one, with her parents, Leroy and Sharon – who had made the journey to Adelaide from Melbourne to see their daughter – invited onto the field to watch from a safe distance.

King has spent little time with her family since moving to Perth in mid-2020, and prior to arriving in Adelaide, had not seen her parents in the best part of a year.

"They are my world, and I really miss them … it's so good to see them and I'm so happy," King said.

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes v England

Australia Ashes squad: Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes (vc), Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Meg Lanning (c), Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck

England Ashes squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver (vc), Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt

Australia lead the multi-format series 2-0

Jan 20: Australia won by nine wickets

Jan 22: Second T20, Adelaide Oval, 2.10pm AEDT

Jan 23: Third T20, Adelaide Oval, 2.10pm AEDT

Jan 27-30: Test match, Manuka Oval, 10am AEDT, 

Feb 3: First ODI, Manuka Oval (D/N), 2.10pm AEDT

Feb 6: Second ODI, Junction Oval, 10.05am AEDT

Feb 8: Third ODI, Junction Oval, 10.05am AEDT

Australia A v England A

Australia A squad: Georgia Redmayne (c), Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns (OD only), Stella Campbell, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Heather Graham, Phoebe Litchfield, Katie Mack (OD only), Courtney Sippel, Molly Strano (OD only), Elyse Villani, Georgia Voll, Courtney Webb, Amanda-Jade Wellington

England A squad: Emily Arlott, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Alice Davidson-Richards, Georgia Elwiss, Kirstie Gordon, Eve Jones, Beth Langston, Emma Lamb, Bryony Smith, Ellie Threlkeld, Issy Wong

Jan 20: Australia A won by three wickets

Jan 21: Second T20, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide, 3pm AEDT

Jan 23: Third T20, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide, 10am AEDT

Jan 28: First OD, Philip Oval, Canberra, 10am AEDT

Jan 30: Second OD, Philip Oval, Canberra, 10am AEDT

Feb 2: Third OD, Philip Oval, Canberra, 10am AEDT