Australia captain Meg Lanning will return to international cricket for the upcoming one-day international series against Pakistan.
One of the game’s all-time greats took an extended break in August following Australia’s ODI World Cup triumph and a Commonwealth Games gold medal in Birmingham.
She announced she would miss the WBBL season and instead embark on an international holiday to explore alternative career options.
Significantly, Lanning is returning as captain. It was unclear when she took her leave whether the 30-year-old would return at all – or want to regain the captaincy role if she did.
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But vice-captain Alyssa Healy, who led the side in the 4-1 away Twenty20 series win over India, injured her right calf during that trip and will miss the Pakistan games.
Meg Lanning plays a pull shot. (Photo by Phil Walter-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
Lanning was spotted training in Melbourne on Thursday, fuelling speculation she might be about to return.
All-rounder Tahlia McGrath will act as Lanning’s deputy throughout the series, the first three matches of which take place from January 16-21 in Brisbane and Sydney.
McGrath captained Australia for the first time for the last game of the India series after Healy’s injury.
National selector Shawn Flegler is delighted to once again have Lanning available.
“Meg brings so much to the side both on and off the field, and it’s pleasing to welcome her back at such an important time with the T20 World Cup just over a month away,” he said.
“While we welcome Meg back, Alyssa won’t have recovered from her calf injury in time, so that presents an opportunity for Beth (Mooney) to take the gloves in her absence.”
A squad for the following three T20Is against Pakistan and the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa is yet to be announced.
Flegler remains confident Jess Jonassen, who had a hamstring injury in the India series, will prove her fitness for the Pakistan matches.
Heather Graham, Amanda-Jade Wellington and Grace Harris are prominent names to miss selection.
Flegler said they remain in contention for the Pakistan T20s and the World Cup.
Also on Friday, Wellington and Graham were named in a 12-player squad for the Governor-General’s XI to take on Pakistan, but Harris again missed out.
The development team will play a 50-over match on January 13 at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field.
Able Seaman Charlee Masters, a medium pace bowler, will represent the Australian Defence Force in the match.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Meg Lanning (capt), Tahlia McGrath, Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland.
GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S XI SQUAD
Able Seaman Charlee Masters (Australian Defence Force), Lauren Cheatle, Tess Flintoff, Ashleigh Gardner, Heather Graham, Charli Knott, Phoebe Litchfield, Courtney Sippel, Rachel Trenaman, Georgia Voll, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Tahlia Wilson.
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