Lucy Hamilton (right), who earned her maiden Australia cap in an ODI against India back in March, has secured a spot in the T20 World Cup squad.
Photograph: Steve Bell/Getty Images
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Lucy Hamilton (right), who earned her maiden Australia cap in an ODI against India back in March, has secured a spot in the T20 World Cup squad.
Photograph: Steve Bell/Getty Images
‘Pecking Order Clear’: Australia Load Up on Spin for T20 World Cup Redemption
Selector Shawn Flegler has indicated that as many as four spinners could feature in the same XI, as Australia reshapes its squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Rising quick Lucy Hamilton gets the nod over Darcie Brown, while captain Sophie Molineux’s full recovery from a lower back injury creates a selection logjam among the slow bowlers.
Australia is chasing redemption after back-to-back semi-final exits in the last two World Cups. Molineux, who succeeded the retired Alyssa Healy as skipper, is a lock in the side despite fierce competition from spin trio Ashleigh Gardner, Alana King and Georgia Wareham.
King made history with a stunning 7–18 against South Africa in last year’s 50-over World Cup, later claiming 23 wickets in the Ashes to be named player of the series. After being left out of the T20 squad that toured India, she returned during the West Indies tour with five wickets at an average of 11 and an economy rate of 5.5 in the powerplay.
Flegler acknowledged the abundance of spin talent, but stressed Molineux’s place is secure. “She’s our skipper and she’s going to play … left-arm orthodox, it’s highly valued in the women’s game,” he said. “Georgia’s been a number one legspinner. Alana’s come in and done really well. But I think the pecking order is pretty clear. We’ve got Ash, Soph and Georgia, and then if conditions allowed, then Alana comes into it as well.”
Molineux, who led a team-building fireside chat outside Brisbane on Sunday, said she faces no bowling restrictions. “We’ve got so much skill and experience, we’ve got some new energy. Being able to bring it all together and perform in those big moments where we’ve been on the other side in the last couple of World Cups – that’s what’s really driving this group,” she said.
Left-arm quick Lucy Hamilton, 20, was included in the 15-player squad, with Darcie Brown the surprise omission. “She was obviously disappointed,” Flegler said. “We’ve been trying to get Darc up over the last couple of years to be a front-line bowler and bowl in that powerplay and she just hasn’t quite nailed that opportunity, but we still think she’s going to have a great career for Australia. She’s still a young fast bowler, this is certainly not the end, and she may well get called up during the World Cup anyway.”
Hamilton, a Bundaberg product, debuted across all three formats for Australia in March. While left-arm pace has been abundant in the men’s game, it’s a rare skill in women’s cricket. Coach Shelley Nitschke noted, “She gets some good bounce, bowls a really heavy ball; it’s a real point of difference, especially for our attack. There’s not a lot of them around.”
Allrounder Nicola Carey returns to her first T20 World Cup since 2020 after a golden summer that saw her back in the national side following a three-year absence. Heat allrounder Grace Harris also returns after being left out of the recent West Indies tour. Nitschke said the big-hitter’s versatility and proven form in England earned her recall.
Annabel Sutherland is back after missing the West Indies tour, while Ellyse Perry will feature in her 10th T20 World Cup – she has been part of every edition since the inaugural tournament in 2009.
New Zealand are the defending T20 world champions. Australia will play three warm-up matches at Arundel Castle against South Africa starting May 31, followed by two practice games against England in Cardiff.
Australia squad: Sophie Molineux (captain), Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham. Travelling reserve: Tahlia Wilson.