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Aussie A women to play historic series

Rising stars given chance to shine with Australia A v India A series confirmed for December

Australian selectors will be given the chance to cast the net wide for next year's women's T20 World Cup, with an historic maiden home A-series to be played this summer.

Just two months out from the national team's home World Cup defence, Australia's up-and-coming talent will play three T20s and three one-dayers against India A in December.

The Brisbane and Gold Coast matches, to be played from December 12-23, will come after the conclusion of the Rebel WBBL and will be the first official women's A-series in Australia.

The venues for the tour will be confirmed at a later date.

It follows an 'A' tour of India last year, while another will run parallel to the Australian women's Ashes campaign in England this July, with a squad of both current international hopefuls and up-and-coming young guns travelling alongside the senior side.

That tour mimics the tactic being employed by Australia's men this northern summer, which will see a squad of Test specialists play a series of matches against county sides while the ODI side is contesting the World Cup.

"The pathway is the mirror image of what happens in the male space," National Performance Squad coach Leah Poulton said.

"An Australia A squad is just really clear for the players, coaches and the fans, they are looking at the squad and know exactly what the opportunity is.

"People are always watching and taking note of those things. Any time the girls can play at a decent level and perform well, it's helping their case."

Ashes campaign kicks-off in Brisbane

The increase in the pathways system since the professionalisation of the women's game has helped a regeneration of the No.1 ranked side over the past year.

The introduction of the NPS was formalised in 2017, with the country's younger talent training with the main squad in Brisbane each off-season with access to their coaches and support staff.

Victorians Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham, Tayla Vlamenick all came out of that program and played in the World T20-winning squad last summer, while NSW quick Lauren Cheatle also regained her spot following injury through the program.

An under-19s Australian side has also been added, with a maiden women's youth World Cup now confirmed for 2021.

"You get a little glimpse of it (in those sides and training), and in a sense does make you quite hungry," Molineux said.

"At times you actually feel quite close to something that once you might have felt far away from. Games like that make you feel like you're in the hunt.

"You don't know how close you are until it all happens very quickly."

India A tour of Australia

50-over matches

December 12: Australia A v India A, Brisbane

December 14: Australia A v India A, Brisbane

December 16: Australia A v India A, Brisbane

20-over matches

December 19: Australia A v India A, Gold Coast

December 21: Australia A v India A, Gold Coast

December 23: Australia A v India A, Gold Coast

CommBank Ashes Tour of England

First ODI Grace Road, Leicester, July 2

Second ODI Grace Road, Leicester, July 4

Third ODI St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury, July 7

Test The County Ground, Taunton, July 18-21

First T20 County Ground, Chelmsford, July 26

Second T20 The County Ground, Hove, July 28

Third T20 Bristol County Ground, Bristol, July 31

A Test victory is worth four points (two each for a draw), two points are awarded for ODI and T20 wins