Young leggie eyeing Ashes recall

After sitting on the sidelines for the majority of Australia’s Women’s World Cup campaign earlier this year, leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington is now eyeing an ODI recall against England when the Ashes get underway next weekend.

Wellington made an impressive start to her international career last summer, taking a wicket with her very first ball for Australia and playing six ODIs and three T20Is.

But her hopes of continuing that form in the World Cup were dealt a blow when she fractured a finger during a warm-up match, ruling her out of Australia’s opening game against West Indies in Taunton.

Fellow leg-spinner Kristen Beams was called into the XI in her place and quickly cemented her spot, finishing as Australia’s highest wicket taker for the tournament, while the good form of fellow spinners Ashleigh Gardner and Jess Jonassen meant Wellington was unable to force her way back into the side.

It was the first real setback of Wellington’s international career, but the South Australian has taken it on the chin and has now reset her focus on playing a role in helping Australia retain the Ashes.

“It was a set-back, I was ready and raring to fight for the World Cup so it was disappointing but it was also good to sit on the sidelines and support the girls giving it their all,” Wellington told cricket.com.au.

“I’ve just got to train hard, stick to our values, keep doing the right things. I’m batting hard, bowling hard and fielding hard.”

Since returning from the World Cup in the United Kingdom, Wellington has spent valuable time at Brisbane’s Bupa National Cricket Centre preparing for the upcoming Commonwealth Bank Women’s Ashes.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Wellington, who admitted to being frustrated by a “rough patch” but she is now confident she is on the right track to tackle England.

Places in Australia’s XI for the first match of the multi-format series, an ODI at Allan Border Field on October 22, will be fiercely contested.

But if she is called upon, Wellington is confident she is now ready.

“I’ve just been trying to get into a good rhythm. (Last month) I had a bit of breakdown because I felt my bowling wasn’t up to standard and I felt I was in a rough patch, so I was trying to get back into my groove again.

“I feel like I’m in a better headspace at the moment and I was really happy with my bowling during the last week in Brisbane (at Australia’s pre-Ashes training camp)."

Eleven months have passed since Wellington was first called into Australia’s ODI squad for two matches in Coffs Harbour last November.

She concedes the step up from state to international cricket has been a major learning curve, but one she hopes now has her on the path to further success.

“There’s a lot of things I’ve learned, you’ve got to take every opportunity as it comes and when the opportunities are there, you need to grab them with both hands.

“There’s a lot of demands while you’re in the Australian system and one thing I’m trying to handle is living in hotels so often, missing home and adapting to that.

“I think I’ve become a bit more mature and I’ve realized the standards you have to reach to play at Australian level.”

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes

Schedule

First ODI Allan Border Field, October 22

Brisbane Charity Partner: Lord Mayor's Charitable Trust

Second ODI Coffs International Stadium, October 26

Third ODI Coffs International Stadium, October 29

Coffs Junior Cricket Association Partners: Coffs Harbour District JCA, Nambucca Bellingen JCA, and Clarence River JCA

Day-Night Test North Sydney Oval, November 9-12

First T20 North Sydney Oval, November 17

North Sydney Charity Partner: McGrath Foundation

Second T20 Manuka Oval, November 19

Third T20 Manuka Oval, November 21

Canberra Charity Partner: Lord's Taverners ACT