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Teenage leggie spins into good company

She's only just begun her international career but Wellington already has solid rapports with a couple of established teammates

Teenage leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington's international career is just six games old, but she's already forming what could prove to be two long-term, defining partnerships for the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars.

In the last two weeks, Wellington has taken 11 wickets in four matches – more than any other Australia player – and looms as a key for the Southern Stars not only in their ongoing battle to retain the Rose Bowl in New Zealand, but also to their hopes of defending their 50-over World Cup title later this year.

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Wellington made her international debut against South Africa last November, replacing injured leg-spinner Kristen Beams in the Australia ODI squad.

But it's bowling alongside her spinning counterpart in the current series against the White Ferns that the 19-year-old is now relishing, with the combination of Wellington's flight and spin and Beams' accuracy a weapon the Australian coaches are particularly eager to hone ahead of the World Cup in England.

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"It's a great combination and I love bowling with her," Wellington said ahead of Australia's first training session at Mt Maunganui on Thursday.

"It's especially nice to be bowling with her and not against her.

"We differ quite a lot.

"I'm slower in the air and spin it more, while Beams is more attacking at the stumps."

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While the duo's differing approaches to the art of leg-spin is a strength, Wellington is also eager to learn from the 32-year-old Beams, who has played 41 international matches since making her Southern Stars debut in mid-2014.

"She's more tactical than I am and that's something I need to step up at this level," Wellington admitted.

"At each training session we have conversations around our different strategies.

"I love watching her in the nets and picking up little details about her style and tactics."

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Another Australian who must be enjoying Wellington's elevation to the international arena is wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy.

The pair have already combined for four stumpings in Australian colours, and coach Matthew Mott is predicting the pair feature in many more highlight reels in years to come.

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"I think Wellington could extend Healy's career by a few years, having someone like her around provides plenty of opportunities, in particular stumpings," Mott said.

"We went through the stats and Healy's already got 28 stumpings compared to 17 catches in T20s and that's only going to improve with someone like Wellington who drags the batter down the wicket."

Having lost the opening ODI in Auckland by five wickets, Australia now face two must-win matches at Mt Maunganui's Bay Oval to continue their 17-year hold on the Rose Bowl trophy.

Rather than dwelling on the defeat at Eden Park – which followed back-to-back T20 losses to the White Ferns in Australia – Wellington said the team were confident of a change of fortunes at Bay Oval, the same venue where they won consecutive one-dayers to seal a series win over the Kiwis in 2016.

Wellington strikes with first international ball

"The game was disappointing but I think we can turn it around," Wellington said.

"We're just going to look at it one game at a time.

"I'm settling into the group which is good and with each match I'm learning a bit more about my own game."