King grabs spin spot as Australia name Ashes squad

12 Jan 2022 Laura Jolly

Jess Jonassen and Megan Schutt return to Australia's squad for the Ashes, but there's no room for Amanda-Jade Wellington

The uncapped Alana King has beat out Amanda-Jade Wellington for the vacant leg-spinner's spot in Australia's Ashes squad, while there is no room for speedster Stella Campbell despite last week's record-breaking seven-wicket haul for NSW.

Australia unveiled their 15-player squad today for the multi-format series, which begins with the first of three T20Is on January 20, with several big names missing out after a larger 18-player group was picked for their most recent series against India.

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

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

King is one of three incoming players along with Jess Jonassen and Megan Schutt, who missed the series against India due to injury and parental leave respectively.

The trio replace injured spinners Georgia Wareham (ACL) and Sophie Molineux (foot), while there is no room for fast bowlers Campbell – who took 7-25 in a domestic one-day game at Manuka Oval last week – and Maitlan Brown as well as spinner Molly Strano and batter Georgia Redmayne, who have all been included in the 15-player Australia A squad instead.

King, who moved from Victoria to Western Australia two seasons ago, has been named in a senior Australia squad for the first time and is the only uncapped member of the 15-strong group.

The 26-year-old has got the nod over Wellington, who also enjoyed a strong Weber WBBL season, including a tournament record haul of 5-8 against the Brisbane Heat in the semi-finals at Adelaide Oval, where the Ashes will begin next week.

The South Australian played Australia's last home Ashes Test in 2017 and has represented Australia on 27 occasions, most recently in 2018, while King was part of the National Performance Squad in 2019 but missed selection in Australia A's most recent tours the same year.

"This was a tough selection process with so many players coming off strong WBBL tournaments, but we're confident we've selected a balanced, all-round squad with players who can perform across all three formats," national selector Shawn Flegler said.

"The loss of Georgia Wareham to injury has presented Alana King with a great opportunity to show what she can do at this level and having improved in all facets of her game over the last few seasons, she's well placed to play an important role in the series."

Australia's squad for the upcoming ODI World Cup in New Zealand is expected to be named later this month, with that group set to depart for a 10-day quarantine period across the Tasman just days after the final Ashes ODI in Melbourne.

Flegler remains hopeful Molineux, who suffered a stress fracture to her right foot late in the WBBL season, will be available for the ICC event, but Wareham will miss both the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games in July.

Redmayne will captain Australia A in three T20s and three one-day games against England A that will run alongside the Ashes.

Notable inclusions in that 'A' squad are Wellington and fellow internationally capped players Heather Graham, Erin Burns, Grace Harris and Elyse Villani.

They line up alongside some of Australia's most promising young talent including Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Voll, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff and Courtney Sippel, and in-form ACT batter Katie Mack.

"While Georgia Redmayne, Stella Campbell, Maitlan Brown and Molly Strano have missed out from the India series due to a decrease in squad size, we know they’ll be able to lead the way with the 'A' side and will be able to slot straight into the side if the opportunity arises," Flegler said.

Australia have held the Ashes since 2015 having won the points-based series 12-2 on English soil in 2019 after the 2017 home series was drawn 8-8.

Teams are awarded two points for each ODI and T20I win, while a Test win is worth four points.

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

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

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes v England

Jan 20: First T20, Adelaide Oval

Jan 22: Second T20, Adelaide Oval

Jan 23: Third T20, Adelaide Oval

Jan 27-30: Test match, Manuka Oval

Feb 3: First ODI, Manuka Oval

Feb 6: Second ODI, Junction Oval

Feb 8: Third ODI, Junction Oval

Australia A v England A

Jan 20: First T20, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide

Jan 21: Second T20, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide

Jan 23: Third T20, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide

Jan 28: First OD, Philip Oval, Canberra

Jan 30: Second OD, Philip Oval, Canberra

Feb 2: Third OD, Philip Oval, Canberra