Australia keep World Series squad for Commonwealth Games

Meg Lanning will lead an unchanged Australia squad to the first edition of the Women’s T20 event in Birmingham at this year’s Commonwealth Games. 

The dominant Australian team that conquered the 50-over World Series Tile earlier this year in New Zealand will only miss the services of their head coach Matthew Mott, who recently accepted a position as England men’s white ball coach. Shelly Nitschke will be the interim women’s coach at the games. 

Squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington

George Warehum (ACL injury), Sophie Molineux and Tayla Vlaeminck(foot injury) are still recovering from their respective injuries and will most likely miss out a few games. 

Meanwhile, veteran Ellyse Perry who is still nursing a back injury, can play as a pure batter like she did in the World Series final.  "Her availability to bowl will be dependent on her progress in the coming weeks and on the medical advice," team physiotherapist Kate Beerworth said.

Australia will start the quest for a gold medal with a couple of training sessions at the National Cricket Centre in June before the squad takes part in a tri series involving Ireland and Pakistan. 

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," 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."

The reigning champions will start firm favourites to bag gold. They are grouped with India, Pakistan and Barbados. Group B comprises England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka. The top two teams from these groups will advance into the semi finals.