Australia and South Africa are set to script historical past as they’re going to tackle one another for the primary time within the red-ball format. Cricket Australia has named a robust 14-member squad for the one-off Test that’s slated to be performed at The WACA in Perth beginning February 15.
Australia’s squad announcement has led to the inclusion of bowling allrounder Sophie Molineux. Molineux has been added to the Australian crew for the primary time since her final look which got here within the T20I format against India in Carrara on October 10, 2021.
Molineux’s inclusion has led to the ouster of Heather Graham and that is a significant change within the Australia squad that performed against India on the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in December 2022. Apart from Graham, left-arm pacer Lauren Cheatle, who underwent surgical procedure to get pores and skin most cancers faraway from her neck area can also be not part of the squad as she continues to get well.
Cricket Australia’s head of efficiency and nationwide selector Shawn Flegler expressed delight at Molineux’s return to the squad and lauded her for all of the exhausting work that she has put within the final 12 months.
“It was a nice call to make, (Sophie’s) been through a lot in the last couple of years,” Flegler was quoted as saying by Cricket.com.au.
“She was fairly emotional, she’s put plenty of exhausting work in during the last 12 months however even the earlier 12 months as effectively – she’s missed out on some huge tournaments for us.
“She has come again and performed rather well…has in all probability stunned herself a bit of bit with how effectively she’s gone.
“She’s an all-format player, was an all-format player before she got injured and she’s come back in great nick,” he added.
Australia Test squad:
Alyssa Healy (c), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham
South Africa Test squad:
Laura Wolvaardt, Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Mieke de Ridder, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Chloé Tryon, Delmi Tucker
