Star Western Australians Beth Mooney and Alana King have been included among a 15-player Australian squad to have been selected for the CommBank Women’s T20I Series against New Zealand and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
King, Mooney selected for T20 World Cup
Mooney earns selection after a standout 12 months in all formats for her country, where she remains a key cog in Australia's dominant batting lineup. The classy left-hander has compiled 1008 runs across Test (269 at 53.8), ODI (260 at 42.53) and T20I (479 at 43.54) since the start of 2023, showing her versatility across a variety of roles in the top and middle order.
King has had an outstanding 2023-24 season in national colours, developing a genuine wicket-taker for Australia across the 50-over format, where she has taken 19 wickets at 12.10 in her 11 appearances over the last 12 months. Her powerful ball-striking ability with the bat has also become a feature of her game, smashing 117 runs at 58.5 with an imposing strike rate of 151.94
Australia will face New Zealand in a three-match T20I series in Mackay and Brisbane before travelling to the UAE to defend its World Cup crown.
Victory would see Australia become the first team, men or women’s, to claim four consecutive T20 World Cup titles.
The 15 players selected are:
Alyssa Healy (NSW / Sydney Sixers / Sydney CC) - Captain
Darcie Brown (SA / Adelaide Strikers / Northern Districts CC)
Ashleigh Gardner (NSW / Sydney Sixers / Bankstown CC)
Kim Garth (VIC / Melbourne Stars / Dandenong CC)
Grace Harris (QLD / Brisbane Heat / Western Suburbs CC)
Alana King (WA / Perth Scorchers / Midland Guildford CC)
Phoebe Litchfield (NSW / Sydney Thunder / Sydney University CC)
Tahlia McGrath (SA / Adelaide Strikers / Glenelg CC) - Vice-Captain
Sophie Molineux (VIC / Melbourne Renegades / Dandenong CC)
Beth Mooney (WA / Perth Scorchers / Sandgate-Redcliffe CC)
Ellyse Perry (VIC / Sydney Sixers / Dandenong CC)
Megan Schutt (SA / Adelaide Strikers / Sturt CC)
Annabel Sutherland (VIC / Melbourne Stars / Prahran CC)
Georgia Wareham (VIC / Melbourne Renegades / Essendon Maribyrnong Park CC)
Tayla Vlaeminck (VIC / Melbourne Renegades / Plenty Valley CC)
Heather Graham will be part of the squad for the T20 series but will not travel to the World Cup.
Cricket Australia’s Head of Performance (Women’s Cricket) and National Selector, Shawn Flegler said:
“This is the first time in a long time we’ve had our entire contract list available for selection ahead of a World Cup and it’s resulted in a really stable and balanced squad.
“It’s the first time Alyssa Healy will have the reins at a World Cup and we’ve already seen what her and Tahlia McGrath bring from a leadership perspective, so it’s exciting for them to have this opportunity to lead their country on the biggest stage.
“Phoebe Litchfield is a real x-factor for us and will be well supported by an experienced group at her first World Cup.
“The pace duo of Tayla Vlaeminck and Darcie Brown is one we’ve been wanting to unleash for a while and is a real point of difference for us.
“Jess Jonassen is again unlucky to miss out, but we’ve been impressed with the way she’s bounced back, and we’ll continue to monitor her form ahead of the home summer.”
Fans can watch all the action when Australia takes on New Zealand live on the Seven Network, 7Plus, Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports and ABC Radio.
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will be live and exclusive on Prime Video from October 3.