No shortage of Aussie leaders: Blackwell

As the search for Meg Lanning’s replacement for the Commonwealth Bank Women’s Ashes continues, vice-captain Alex Blackwell is confident Australia has the leadership depth to cover their inspirational skipper.

Lanning’s long-standing shoulder injury, one that she carried throughout this winter’s Women’s World Cup in England, was operated on upon her return to Australia and subsequently ruled her out of the multi-format Women’s Ashes this summer. 

It now leaves Australia without a captain less than two months out of the opening fixture – a one-day international in Brisbane on October 22.

But despite the loss of Lanning, the world No.1-ranked batter, Blackwell believes there is no shortage of potential leaders in the country.

"Obviously, Meg is a huge loss, not only as a player but as a leader," Blackwell told reporters in Sydney on Thursday. 

"So the good thing in our Australian women's team is we have got so many leaders to choose from to fill that role.

"I’m very confident we'll move ahead and perform well in this Ashes series coming up."

Blackwell, as NSW Lendlease Breakers skipper and Lanning’s vice-captain, is a contender to replace the Victorian in the top job.

The 34-year-old has captained her country 34 times in all formats and would add valuable experience to the role if given the opportunity. 

"I've had the honour to be vice-captain for a very long time and also step up into the Australian captain role," she said.

"I would be honoured to hold any leadership role and do that job, whatever it is, to the best of my ability as I always do."

However, a unique selection in the Women’s World Cup could be an indicator Blackwell is not in the selector’s minds to replace Lanning as skipper.

Lanning was rested for two games in Australia’s World Cup campaign, but instead of Blackwell leading the side in her absence as her acting deputy, NSW teammate Rachel Haynes was brought into the XI as captain.

While the move was a strange one from outside the camp, Southern Stars coach Matthew Mott explained the reasoning behind Haynes’s elevation. 

"We felt that Rachael was very similar in her style to Meg, and that leadership model was something that we wanted to keep together," Mott said in July.

With Australia’s selectors now facing a similar dilemma, Haynes could once again step up and fill Lanning’s shoes. 

"(Haynes) is a fantastic cricketer and we've seen her absent from the Australian squad for a few years," Blackwell said on Haynes, who spent three-and-a-half years out of the national team before returning in February. 

"That's rectified now, it's great to see Rachel back in the squad.

"I got to work alongside her as a vice-captain (in the Women’s World Cup). 

"And here at NSW I have her leadership behind me, so she handled that challenging opportunity really well. 

"And we got two wins under her captaincy."