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Bolton, Harris join Southern Stars squad

Batting pair added to Australia playing group for groundbreaking tour of Sri Lanka

The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad for next month's tour of Sri Lanka has been named, with Grace Harris and Nicole Bolton joining a 14-strong group featuring 12 players who were part of the ICC World T20 campaign earlier this year.

Captain Meg Lanning has recovered from the shoulder tear which ruled her out of the England Women’s Super League in July and leads a side desperate to return to their best after losing the World T20 final to the West Indies in India in March.

Harris was a late scratching from that tournament after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis, while ODI opening batter Bolton resumes her usual place in Australia's 50-over squads.

Two other players forced to pull out of the England T20 tournament – allrounder Jess Jonassen and fast bowler Megan Schutt – have been given a clean bill of health after extended injury layoffs during the five-month break since the Southern Stars last played.

Quick Single: Schutt, Jonassen all set for SL tour

But the Southern Stars will head to Sri Lanka without teenage left-arm quick Lauren Cheatle, with the 17-year-old sitting out the tour to focus on her Year 12 studies, while pace bowler Sarah Coyte will also be absent after deciding to take an indefinite break from international cricket earlier this year.

"We've got a number of options covered with our bowling attack as well as several batters who can produce the attacking game-style we want to play," said national selector Shawn Flegler.

"The players have had a solid pre-season with a number of camps held at the Bupa National Cricket Centre in Brisbane.

"Grace Harris, Beth Mooney and Holly Ferling all have recent experience in Sri Lankan conditions, having toured the country with the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars squad last year.

"Grace has overcome the disappointment of missing the World T20 in India due to illness and has another great opportunity to impress for her country on this tour.

"After a very impressive start to her international career, Lauren Cheatle will sit out this tour as she focuses on her final year of high school."

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Australia will make history when they embark on what will be their first-ever bilateral tour of Sri Lanka, aiming to collect valuable points in the ICC Women's Championship.

The Southern Stars will play four One-Day Internationals and a one-off T20I in Sri Lanka, with the first three one-dayers to count towards the Championship.

The Southern Stars currently sit on top of the table, with the top four teams at the end of the year to gain automatic entry to next year's Women's World Cup in England.

The world No.1 ranked team will also be hoping to fare better in the subcontinent conditions than their male counterparts did during their recent Test series on the island nation.

They take with them a slow-bowling group featuring leg-spinner Kristen Beams, off-spinners Harris and Erin Osborne and left-arm orthodox spinner Jonassen.

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One ace up their sleeve is young batter Beth Mooney, who already boasts a strong record in Sri Lanka, having been the standout performer during a tour with Australia's 'A' team, the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars, early last year, where she amassed 301 runs in just three innings, including unbeaten scores of 144 and 128.

Harris and quick Holly Ferling were also part of that tour, while six of the remaining squad members also have previous experience in Sri Lanka, during Australia's triumphant World T20 campaign in 2012.

Another factor in Australia's favour is their short-but-flawless history against Sri Lanka, having never been beaten in their three ODI and one T20 encounters to date, the most recent of which resulted in a nine-wicket win for the Southern Stars during this year's World T20.

The squad will depart Australia on September 12.

Southern Stars squad: Meg Lanning (captain), Alex Blackwell (vice-captain), Kristen Beams, Nicole Bolton, Rene Farrell, Holly Ferling, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Beth Mooney, Erin Osborne, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani 

Fixtures

15 September: Warm-up match, Colombo
18 September: First ODI, Dambulla
20 September: Second ODI, Dambulla*
23 September: Third ODI, Colombo*
25 September: Fourth ODI, Colombo*
27 September: Only T20, Colombo
*ICC Women’s Championship matches