Consistent performers of India A Women series to be considered for WT20 selection, reveals Matthew Mott
According to Australia women's team coach Matthew Mott, he is looking at the India A Women's team tour as one of the parameters for WBBL and T20 World Cup selection. The India A Women's team began their maiden tour of Australia, consisting of three One Day games and as many T20s, on December 12.
The Indian women's cricket is ready for another revolution with the revival of 'A' tours as India A women are set to start their maiden tour of Australia at Brisbane on December 12. This is a sincere effort to provide the required exposure and experience at the first-class level as there is a huge difference between the domestic cricket of women and international cricket. These tours will unveil new challenges for the Indian women cricketers and make them ready for international cricket as and when needed.
The tour consists of three ODIs and three T20s and while the ODIs will be played at Brisbane, the T20s will be played at the Bill Pippen Field in Gold Coast. With the women's T20 World Cup set to be scheduled in February 2020, many players in the Indian cricket team like Priya Punia, Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Devika Vaidya, and Nuzhat Parween along with the skipper Veda Krishnamurthy will look at this tour as preparation for the mega event.
The Australian women's team coach Matthew Mott also is looking at this tour as a rehearsal for the World Cup next year and has revealed that there are a few spots in the final 15-member squad that are up for grabs.
"We’ve said from day one, the WBBL is very important for T20 selection and pretty much all of those players have performed at some point through this tournament," Mott told cricket.com.au of the Australia A squad.
"Our top 12 will probably pick themselves and (after that) you look at who are potentially good impact players off the bench who can fill a couple of roles,” he further added.
The 'A' tours is a part of an agreement between Cricket Australia (CA) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to host annual 'A' series between the two nations.
India 'A' squad: Veda Krishnamurthy (c), Anuja Patil (vc), Priya Punia, Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Devika Vaidya, D Hemalatha, Tanusree Sarkar, Sushma Verma (wicket-keeper), Nuzhat Parween (wicket-keeper), Mansi Joshi, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, Manali Dakshini, T P Kanwar
Australia 'A' Squad: Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Heather Graham, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Bridget Patterson, Georgia Redmayne, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Molly Strano, Annabel Sutherland, Belinda Vakarewa, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Tahlia Wilson
Australia A T20 Squad: Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Josie Dooley, Heather Graham, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Bridget Patterson, Sammy Jo Johnson, Molly Strano, Annabel Sutherland, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington
Australia 'A' vs India 'A' fixtures
First One Day: 12 December, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 5:30 am IST
Second One Day: 14 December, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 5:30 am IST
Third One Day: 16 December, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 5:30 am IST
First T20: 19 December, Bill Pippen Field, Gold Coast, 9 am IST
Second T20: 21 December, Bill Pippen Field, Gold Coast, 9 am IST
Third T20: 23 December, Bill Pippen Field, Gold Coast, 9 am IST