Women’s National Selection Panel (WNSP) have today announced the preliminary Australia squad to contest the ICC World Twenty20 2009 in England.
The event, which features eight teams in the women's competition, will be staged in June 2009 at Lord's, The Oval, Trent Bridge and Taunton. The women’s and men’s semi finals and final will be played as double-header matches at Trent Bridge, The Oval and Lord’s.
The preliminary Australia squad is
Sarah Aley NSW
Sarah Andrews NSW
Kristen Beams VIC
Alex Blackwell NSW
Kate Blackwell NSW
Melissa Bulow QLD
Jessica Cameron VIC
Jude Coleman QLD
Sarah Coyte NSW
Lauren Ebsary WA
Sarah Edwards VIC
Rene Farrell WA
Jodie Fields QLD
Corinne Hall NSW
Rachael Haynes VIC
Alyssa Healy NSW
Emma Inglis VIC
Jessica Jonassen QLD
Delissa Kimmince QLD
Shelley Nitschke SA
Erin Osborne NSW
Ellyse Perry NSW
Kirsten Pike QLD
Leah Poulton NSW
Karen Rolton SA
Lisa Sthalekar NSW
Selena Tainton QLD
Jo-Ann Verrall QLD
Elyse Villani VIC
Julie Woerner SA
Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said the ICC World Twenty20 would offer Australia's elite female cricket stars a chance to shine.
But the tournament will also be another building block in cricket's global popularity.
"One of Twenty20's strengths is that it appeals to new audiences, particularly women and girls, and it is exciting today to be making an announcement about our best female players," he said.
On Andrew Symonds, Mr Sutherland said the selectors had been advised Symonds, who has been working through a counselling process, had reached a point where it was appropriate to consider him for international selection, subject only to fitness and form.
"Cricket Australia and Andrew have been speaking, as have members of the team leadership group, and we are satisfied he is committed to doing the things needed of an Australian international cricketer.”
Commenting on the preliminary men’s squad, NSP Chairman, Andrew Hilditch, said:
Commenting on the preliminary women’s squad, WNSP Chairperson, Marg Jennings, said:
“The WNSP is extremely pleased with this preliminary squad for the World Twenty20.
“The squad has depth in all areas and will ensure that selection in the final squad of 14 will be highly competitive. The squad contains a number of young players who will press for selection following the retirements of Emma Sampson and Leonie Coleman after the World Cup.
“While our World Cup result was disappointing, we feel we have the players to rebound quickly and perform strongly at the World Twenty20.
“The tournament will be an exciting moment for women’s cricket and the WNSP we’ll be looking very closely at those players we think can be successful in the shorter form of the game.
“This presents a chance for players who have not represented Australia to step up to international cricket.”
The final squad of 14 (women) for the World Twenty20 will be named by 5 May.