Match conditions to decide final XIs

On the eve of the opening Commonwealth Bank Women’s Ashes Series match in Brisbane, both sides revealed they’ve settled on a playing squad but gave little more.

Australia captain Rachael Haynes said a squad of 12 – cut down by two from the full unit – had been announced to the playing group, while England coach Mark Robinson confirmed the tourists have landed on an XI, but with one caveat that applies to each side.

Non-stop rain pelted Brisbane and Allan Border Field – the venue for tomorrow’s opening one-day international – and the inclement weather could result in the match being shortened if more rain falls on Sunday or the soaked outfield is not quite fit for play by the 9.15am local start time.

While the forecast is promising for tomorrow – partly cloudy with a top temperature of 24 degrees – a shortened match would lead to a re-think from both parties.

"Today there’s been a lot of rain around so we’re keen to keep our cards close to our chest in terms of what we’re going to do," Haynes told reporters on Saturday.

"Pending on the length of the match there might be a couple of changes but we’ll just wait and see."

Robinson said: "We don’t know if we’re going to play yet, and what length of game."

"So we know our XI if it’s a full 50 overs but we might have to make some changes if it’s a short game.

"The unfortunate bit of having the warm-up games rained off is some of the players who were trying to push a case to play have lost that opportunity.

"But as Heather (Knight, England captain) said, this group’s done really well the last couple of years of being adaptable and meeting challenges head on, and we’re going to have to do that on Sunday."

England haven’t played a match together since their Women’s World Cup final victory over India at Lord’s in July, with their two scheduled practice matches this week both abandoned.

Australia had their first match against a strong Cricket Australia XI washed out on Tuesday after just 31 overs, but benefitted from brilliant sunshine on Friday to play a vital intra-squad match at Marist College Ashgrove.

Couple that match with two rounds of Women’s National Cricket League one-dayers a fortnight ago, and Haynes is confident her side has enough game time under their belt ahead of the series opener.

"It was nice to get outside, I think more than anything we were just getting a little bit of cabin fever being indoors this week with the rain,” Haynes said on the importance of Friday’s hit out.

"Given that we’ve played domestically as well, that was really good preparation for the team and they’ve spent some time in the middle, the bowlers have been bowling outdoors as well.

"I feel like we’re in a really good position heading into tomorrow."

Just who misses out in Australia’s squad is still a mystery, with the final XI set to be named at the coin toss.

The entire squad practiced fielding today at the Bupa National Cricket Centre, while only a handful of players stuck around for additional work in the nets.

Those who stayed included batters Haynes, Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy, Elyse Villani and Nicole Bolton, and spinners Amanda-Jade Wellington, Kristen Beams and Ash Gardner.

Haynes said it was a “really tough decision” to whittle the squad down to 12.

"We’ve had some terrific performances within the team," Haynes said.

"But I feel very confident with direction that we’re heading and it’s really great that we’ve got that competitive spirit within the group and it is hard to select the final team that will take the field tomorrow.”

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes

Australia squad (ODI and Test): Rachael Haynes (C), Alex Blackwell (VC), Kristen Beams, Nicole Bolton, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa (Test only), Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington.

England squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Laura Marsh, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Nat Sciver, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danielle Wyatt.

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