Southern Stars prepare for unique challenge

Several players will be looking to secure their spot in Australia's XI for the upcoming Women's Ashes with a strong performance in a unique warm-up match in Brisbane on Saturday.

The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars have been at a training camp in the Sunshine State this week and will tomorrow (Saturday) take on the men's National Indigenous Squad in a 50-over match at Allan Border Field.

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New coach Matthew Mott, who took over from Cathryn Fitzpatrick in March, is yet to lead the side in a full international as the Southern Stars have been out of action since November's series against the West Indies.

Given the long break between games, the former New South Wales men's coach says the make-up of the side to take on England is far from set in stone.

He says the match at AB Field and their two warm-up fixtures in the UK later this month will go a long way to determining the side for the opening match in Taunton on July 21.

"There's still a lot of spots up for grabs and every one of the girls in our squad are aiming to be in that first XI," Mott told cricket.com.au.

"The first couple of games into that preparation will play a big part of who we go with.

"(A shortage of match practice) is something we've tried to address. We've played a number of games up here (in Brisbane) and we've played a lot of game-specific scenarios, but that's not the same as playing in the games.

"So it'll be really critical in those first couple of games when we hit English shores ... that the girls adjust to English conditions as quickly as possible and get out of the flight routine.

"That'll be a big part of a preparation and certainly the English girls will have that little bit of an advantage being at home and having played a lot of domestic cricket.

"So that's something we've really got to guard against."

Thirteen of the 15-member Ashes squad are in this Brisbane this week, with veterans Alex Blackwell and Erin Osborne already in the UK playing women's county cricket.

But three players are yet to be declared certain starters for Saturday's match; star allrounder Ellyse Perry missed training on Friday due to the flu, while wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy (back tightness) and fast-bowler Rene Farrell (knee) also didn't train with the group on Friday.

All three will be assessed on the morning of the match with reserve players Julie Hunter and Grace Harris ready to step in.

Saturday's game will provide the obviously unique challenge of playing against men, with the Indigenous squad featuring an impressive crop of young male players.

The biggest obstacle for the Southern Stars is expected to be the speed of the Indigenous pacemen, several of whom bowl faster than the quickest bowlers in the women's game.

The main threat will come from Tasmanian Future's League representative Ryan Lees, who's capable of bowling up to 130km/h, while 198cm South Australian Luke Lavender, NSW's Lain Beckett and Queenslander Brendan Doggett will also be difficult to handle.

"It'll be a big test for the girls," Mott said. "They've got a few guys who can bowl up around that 125km/h mark which is right up at the high end of what the girls are used to facing.

"AB Field is a great place to prepare. Just to get on a bigger space and get out there and run around will be great.

"It's a first-class venue and we'll be up against a pretty good team. There's some good players in the Indigenous XI.

"It'll be a really good contest and 50 overs of hard work for the batters."

Indigenous Squad leg-spinner and Australian under-19 representative Jonte Pattison says it will be a unique challenge for his side as well, but one he's excited about ahead of their four matches against the National Performance Squad in the coming weeks.

"It'll be a bit different. I'm not really sure what to expect, but it'll be good fun," Pattison told cricket.com.au.

"I think we have a pretty strong side. We're all pretty handy cricketers so ... I think we'll put a good fight up against the girls and the NPS. We should be pretty strong."

The Southern Stars will take on the 2015 National Indigenous Squad in a 50-over match at Allan Border Field in Brisbane from 9am AEST on Saturday July 4. Admission is free and the weather is expected to be fine.

Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars Women’s Ashes squad: Meg Lanning (c), Alex Blackwell (vc), Kristen Beams, Nicole Bolton (Test and ODI squads only), Jess Cameron, Sarah Coyte, Rene Farrell, Holly Ferling, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince (T20 International squad only), Erin Osborne, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani.

National Indigenous Squad: Ben Abbatangelo, Michael Bailey, Lain Beckett, Zac Chapman, Brendan Doggett, Brandon King, Luke Lavender, Ryan Lees, Ayden McGregor-Baptista, Jonte Pattison, Nathan Price, D'arcy Short, Brendan Smith,, Cameron Trask, Preston White.