Australia announce squad for India tour without a new full-time captain

Australia Women have named a 16-player squad for their multi-format tour of India without a new full-time captain to replace Meg Lanning. The 31-year-old announced her retirement from international cricket last week.

Left-arm seamer Lauren Cheatle is back in the Australian set-up after more than four years. Heather Graham is also making a comeback after missing the series against the West Indies last month.

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Alyssa Healy has often filled in for Lanning but the wicketkeeper-batter is yet to recover from her injury. She was ruled out of the ongoing WBBL season after an accidental bite from her dog. Healy had to get surgery on her right index finger.

"Alyssa Healy's finger is healing but remains in a splint and our medical team are continuing to monitor her recovery closely. We're obviously very hopeful she will be available for the Test, but those decisions are still a while away,” said national selector Shawn Flegler.

Darcie Brown, who suffered a hamstring injury against West Indies in the first ODI, is also back in the mix but hasn’t played any competitive cricket since then. If she gets fit, Brown could share the new ball with Cheatle. 

The latter made her international debut in 2016 but suffered a series of shoulder and back injuries. Cheatle has been in superb form in the ongoing WBBL edition, having picked up 19 wickets in 10 games.

"I just feel in a bit more in rhythm, not just stopping and starting every three or four games. Think that shows performance-wise, feel like I'm in a bit more rhythm and not making silly errors that I may have done in the past,” Cheatle said a few days before the squad was named.

"Think that also comes with experience. I'm 10 years into my career, hopefully with many more to come. I'm just pumped to be on the park and doing my role the best I can."

She is only part of the Test squad though. "Lauren has playing experience in India and provides another fast bowling option, particularly in regard to the Test match which is the format she has been selected for," Flegler said. 

"At this stage, we're planning for Lauren to return to Australia ahead of the white ball formats to play WNCL."

The only Test will be played in Mumbai from December 21. The three ODIs (December  28-January 2) will also be played at the Wankhede Stadium before the action moves to DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, for the three-match T20I series (January 5-9).

"A multi-format series against India in India is exciting and presents a huge challenge for our group," Flegler said. 

"Most of our players, through last December's bilateral series or the WPL, have played cricket in Mumbai over the past 12 months and have experienced the conditions.

"We'll have an opportunity to acclimatise to the conditions and our preparation in Mumbai will include a warm-up match against a local opposition."

Australia squad: Darcie Brown, Lauren Cheatle (Test only), Heather Graham, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris (T20Is), Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham.