Australia have announced their white-ball squad for the upcoming Women’s Ashes against England. Alyssa Healy has been named the captain of the team with Tahlia McGrath set to be her deputy.
While the squad for the ODIs and T20Is has been announced, the Test squad is yet to be picked. The Women’s Ashes 2025 will begin with an ODI series and a T20I series. The one-off Test will be the last match of the multi-format series.
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Alyssa Healy named Australia’s captain for the Women’s Ashes
Alyssa Healy named captain as Australia reveal their squad for the white-ball portion of the Ashes series against England 🙌
More 👉 https://t.co/xxdr4oJew8 pic.twitter.com/Pbq9toCBZM
— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2024
Alyssa Healy will continue to lead the side after leading Australia to a 2-0 ODI series win over New Zealand recently. The wicketkeeper-batter missed the home ODI series against India earlier, however, Australia had no problems in clinching the series comfortably. Meanwhile, all-rounder Sophie Molineux has been ruled out of the series due to a knee injury.
Opening batter Georgia Voll retains her place after an excellent debut series against India. Voll top-scored in the series with 173 runs in three ODIs at an average of 86.50 and a blistering strike rate of 108.80.
Voll also smashed her maiden ODI hundred in the series after opening the batting in the absence of the skipper Alyssa Healy. However, Healy was back for the New Zealand ODIs and Voll had to be dropped unfortunately.
Big-hitter Grace Harris also finds a place but only in the T20I squad. Such is the strength of this Australian team that she has not been included in the ODI squad. Harris is the only player who was only selected for the T20Is.
Good mix of youth and experience
The squad has the experience of Beth Mooney, Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, and Ashleigh Gardner in the batting department. There are also some talented youngsters like Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll in the batting line-up.
The fast bowling resources include Kim Garth, Darcie Brown, and Megan Schutt. The spin bowling looks strong with the likes of Alana King, Georgia Wareham, and Ash Gardner. Quality all-rounders like Gardner, Perry, and Sutherland provide the squad the much-needed balance.
Selector Shawn Flegler was happy to announce a strong Australian squad and feels it that it is good enough to retain the Ashes. He backed the team’s experience in the batting and bowling departments and also backed youngsters like Georgia Voll to do well.
“We’re pleased with how the side performed in recent series against India and New Zealand and are confident we have a balanced squad capable of retaining the Ashes,” Flegler said.
“It was pleasing to see Alyssa Healy return to action against New Zealand and looked in good touch, along with a number of batters continuing their strong form on from the recent series against India,” he added.
“Whilst Georgia Voll didn’t play against New Zealand, she’s made a brilliant start to her international career and will be a strong option with the bat if required in her debut Ashes series,” Flegler noted.
The Women’s Ashes will begin from January 12 with the ODI series. The T20I series will be played from January 20 while the one-off Test match will be played from January 30 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Australia’s squad for ODIs and T20Is for Women’s Ashes against England
Alyssa Healy (C) (wk), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris (T20Is only), Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney (wk), Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham