Several new faces are expected to feature when Australia's squad to play New Zealand is revealed
Rising stars tipped for international call-up
Several rising stars are expected to earn their first international call-ups when the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad to take on New Zealand next month is announced this week.
Australia will host the White Ferns in three Twenty20 Internationals – all double-headers with the men’s KFC T20 INTLs against Sri Lanka – in mid-February, before heading across the Tasman for three one-day internationals in Auckland and Mt Maunganui.
An abundance of allrounders and spinners put their hands up for higher honours during WBBL|02 and some new faces are expected to be handed opportunities as selectors ponder their options for this year’s World Cup title defence in England, as well as next summer’s home Ashes series.
Quick single: Gardner named Rebel Young Gun
“We’ll get together and talk about a provisional squad for the World Cup, there will be a few names coming from outside the contracted list and we’ll whittle it down for the World Cup,” Australia coach Matthew Mott told cricket.com.au ahead of the WBBL final.
Young NSW and Sydney Sixers allrounder Ashleigh Gardner seems all but certain to be called into the squad, having stated an extremely strong case for selection during the Rebel Women’s Big Bash League season and was named Rebel Young Gun.
The 19-year-old dominated at No.3 with the bat for the Sixers, scoring 414 runs at 27.60 during WBBL|02, while also picking up 10 wickets with her off-spinners.
Other potential inclusions include Victorian and Renegades allrounder Sophie Molineux, who was named the inaugural Betty Wilson Young Cricket of the Year at the recent Crown Allan Border Medal night.
Left-arm spinner Molineux, 18, made headlines during a breakthrough opening weekend of WBBL|02 when she starred with both bat and ball, and she continued to impress as the tournament progressed.
State and WBBL teammate Molly Strano should also be on the selectors’ radar, having topped the wicket table in the Women’s National Cricket League before taking 21 wickets at 14.80 in WBBL|02, troubling batters around the country with her off-spinners.
Perth Scorchers allrounder Heather Graham is another who should come into calculations, while Strikers leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington, who made her Southern Stars debut against South Africa in November, seems likely to get another opportunity after an impressive start to her international career.
“There’s no doubt Ashleigh Gardner’s put a really good case forward,” Mott said.
“I thought she had a better impact with the ball in the WNCL but we rate her bowling really highly as well. Her impact with the bat for the Sixers has been exceptional, really, she’s contributed in a lot of games and she’s exciting to watch.
“Sophie Molineux’s been chipping away and has been highly rated … and her bowling is improving all the time.
“Heather Graham’s done very well over in Perth, she’s been a consistent performer. “
Less bountiful are the pace stocks, a worry for selectors with superstar allrounder Ellyse Perry currently dealing with a hamstring injury that ruled her out of the WBBL finals, while quick Holly Ferling underwent elbow surgery on Friday and left-armer Lauren Cheatle is still finding form after missing the first half of WBBL|02 due to illness.
Quick single: Aley shines on biggest stage
Strikers seam-bowling allrounder Tahlia McGrath, who debuted alongside Wellington in November, could be granted another opportunity in the green and gold, while selectors could look to veteran Sixers seamer Sarah Aley, whose brilliant form in WBBL|02 was a key factor of her team’s success and saw her top the tournament wicket table, or young Scorchers medium pacer Piepa Cleary, who took 11 wickets in her eight WBBL|02 matches.
“We’ve got a massive array of spin-bowling allrounders at the moment, we’d like a few more fast bowlers to put their hands up and show a bit more depth,” Mott said.
“We’ve got wicketkeepers and allrounders in spades, so that’s where there’s an opportunity for some of these young bowlers like Belinda Vakarewa and Piepa Cleary to start putting together some consistent performances and perhaps get an opportunity.”
In a pleasing sign for the No.1 ranked Southern Stars, their established stars were also dominant throughout WBBL|02.
Skipper Lanning again topped the runs tally, scoring 502 at 45.63, while ODI opener Beth Mooney (482 at 43.81), wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy (479 at 29.93) and batter Elyse Villani (442 at 29.46) were all outstanding.
Quick single: Mooney named player of WBBL|02
Alex Blackwell (386 at 38.40) and Perry (384 at 38.40) were typically consistent for their respective clubs (Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers), ODI opener Nicole Bolton scored 324 runs for the Scorchers, while seamer Megan Schutt was the competition’s second-most economical bowler, leaking just 5.06 runs per over and picking up 13 scalps along the way for the Adelaide Strikers.
Allrounder Jess Jonassen took 18 wickets at 15.88 and scored 226 runs for the Heat, while Stars leg-spinner Kristen Beams missed the first half of the tournament due to a finger injury, she was a force to be reckoned with upon her return taking 11 wickets at 12.63 in seven matches, including hauls of 3-11, 3-11 and 3-12.
Australia will play the White Ferns in three T20Is in Melbourne (Feb 17), Geelong (Feb 19) and Adelaide (Feb 22), ahead of three ODIs in Auckland (Feb 26) and Mt Maunganui (Mar 2 and 5).