Follow UsAustralia Women have retained their World Cup-winning squad for the upcoming Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Birmingham, starting July 29.
The CWG will be played in a T20 format with just their head coach Matthew Mott, who has taken up the role of England Men's limited-overs coach, missing from the squad.
Shelley Nitschke will be the interim head coach at the CWG. Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux and Tayla Vlaeminck will again not be a part of the squad as they are still nursing their respective injuries.
Also, star all-rounder Ellyse Perry will play in the tournament solely as a batter as she did in the Women's World Cup final against England. "Her availability to bowl will be dependent on her progress in the coming weeks and on the medical advice," team physiotherapist Kate Beerworth said.
This is only the second time cricket will be part of the Commonwealth Games. Previously, the men played a 50-over contest at the Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.
Australia will begin their training sessions in June at the National Cricket Centre, before they play a tri-series involving Pakistan and Ireland ahead of the Games. "To be there with athletes from badminton, squash, lawn bowls and a host of other sports is going to be a wonderful new experience for our players to embrace," Australia captain Meg Lanning said.
"We've all grown up watching the Commonwealth Games on TV, seeing Australian athletes inspire the rest of the country, and we're hoping to do the same."
Australia, who are also the T20 World Cup champions, will kick start the tournament against India on July 29. Other than India and Australia, Group A also features Pakistan and Barbados. The other group consists of New Zealand, South Africa, England and Sri Lanka.
Australia Women squad for CWG: Australia Squad for Commonwealth games:Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy (wk), Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington