Litchfield out of first T20I as Aussies bowl first

Phoebe Litchfield will miss Australia's opening T20I against New Zealand at North Sydney Oval, with the hosts to bowl first after returning skipper Sophie Molineux won the toss.

Litchfield, who missed the final ODI against Bangladesh with a low-grade hip muscle strain – or a "tweaked bum" as the 23-year-old described her niggle on broadcast – batted in the nets at North Sydney Oval on Saturday afternoon before being put through her paces during a fitness test and fielding session.

Australia XI: Beth Mooney (wk), Georgia Voll, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux (c), Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton

New Zealand XI: Georgia Plimmer, Flora Devonshire, Melie Kerr (c), Maddy Green, Izzy Sharp, Brooke Halliday, Jess Kerr, Polly Inglis (wk), Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Bree Illing

However, Australia have opted not to risk the star batter, with Tahlia McGrath recalled in the only change to the XI that lifted the T20 World Cup trophy at Lord's in July.

Molineux has returned to lead Australia after missing the ODIs with a hip complaint, while left-arm quick Lucy Hamilton has returned from the quad injury that sidelined her against Bangladesh, squeezing the in-form Megan Schutt out of the XI.

"Phoebe's tracking well," Australia coach Shelley Nitschke had said in Sydney on Saturday, ahead of Australia's training session. "There's a little bit to play out before the game and she'll continue to be assessed before we see if she's going to be available for the first game."

New Zealand, meanwhile, have entered a new era with this their first series since the retirements of legends Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu.

They have also arrived in Australia with an interim head coach in Dean Brownlie after parting ways with Ben Sawyer last month.

The Rose Bowl T20I series will feature three games across five days, before players join their Big Bash clubs ahead of the start of Weber WBBL|12 on October 29. 

NRMA Insurance Women's T20 Series v New Zealand

First T20I: Sunday, October 18

Second T20I: Tuesday, October 20

Third T20I: Thursday, October 22

* All matches played at North Sydney Oval starting at 7:15pm AEDT

Australia T20I squad: Sophie Molineux (c), Ashleigh Gardner (vc), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham 

New Zealand T20I squad: Melie Kerr (c), Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis (wk), Bella James, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Izzy Sharp

All women's international matches will be shown live on Seven, 7Plus, Kayo Sports and Foxtel