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King to debut, Perry left out in Ashes opener

Grace Harris returns to the Australian lineup for the much anticipated Ashes opener in Adelaide, as Ellyse Perry is left out of the XI

Alana King will make her international debut, Grace Harris is playing her first game for Australia in more than five years and Ellyse Perry has been left out of the XI for the Ashes opener at Adelaide opener

Australia will bowl first in the first T20I at Adelaide Oval after captain Meg Lanning won the toss.


Australia XI: Alyssa Healy (wk), Meg Lanning (c), Tahlia McGrath, Rachael Haynes, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Nicola Carey, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck

England XI: Danni Wyatt, Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight (c), Nat Sciver, Amy Jones (wk), Sophia Dunkley, Maia Bouchier, Katherine Brunt, Sarah Glenn, Sophie Ecclestone, Freya Davies


Harris was promoted to Australia's Ashes squad after Beth Mooney fractured her jaw at training on Monday night, and will play her first international since a 2016 ODI series against South Africa.

Lanning has been listed to open alongside Alyssa Healy in place of the absent Mooney, with Harris named at No.6.

King was presented with T20I cap No.57 by Australia assistant coach Shelley Nitschke; the leg-spinner's Big Bash coach at Perth Scorchers.

The 26-year-old won the battle for the vacant leg-spinner's position in the Australia XI ahead of local hero Amanda-Jade Wellington, and is one of four spin options alongside left-armer Jess Jonassen – who is playing her first international since last April after returning from injury – and off-spinners Ashleigh Gardner and Harris.

They join a four-strong pace attack featuring the fiery pace of Tayla Vlaeminck, allrounders Tahlia McGrath and Nicola Carey, and the swing of Megan Schutt, who also returns to the Australia XI after missing last year's India series due to parental leave.

Australia had indicated their depth of T20 talent, and a desire to place high-striking batters in the middle order could see Perry, the ICC's T20 Player of the Decade and veteran of 126 matches, left out of the side.

Perry missed this week's warm-up games against Australia A after it emerged she had contracted COVID-19 earlier this month and only joined the squad on Tuesday.

The selection squeeze was created in part by the outstanding form of Tahlia McGrath, who made her T20 debut against India last October in place of the injured Rachael Haynes.

In all Australia have made five changes to their most recent T20 XI, welcoming back Haynes, Schutt, Jonassen and Harris alongside the introduction of King, replacing the injured trio of Mooney, Sophie Molineux (foot) and Georgia Wareham, alongside Perry and Annabel Sutherland.

The multi-format Ashes are determined by a points system and include three T20s, one Test and three ODIs.

Australia have held the trophy since 2015, and crushed England on home soil in 2019, winning 12-4.

'They're the best for a reason': Aussies ready to face English Ashes stars

England have made one change to their most recent T20I XI – a match against New Zealand last September – with Freya Davies replacing fellow quick Tash Farrant.

"We massively underperformed, we didn't play anywhere near our potential," England captain Heather Knight said on Wednesday.

"Everything we've done since then, it's about addressing that.

"When you have a big loss like that, it leaves a bit of soul searching and (thinking about) what you can do better.

"Also trying to remember what you have done well ... we've built as a group."

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes v England

Australia Ashes squad: Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes (vc), Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Meg Lanning (c), Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck

England Ashes squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver (vc), Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt

Jan 20: First T20, Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm AEDT

Jan 22: Second T20, Adelaide Oval, 2.10pm AEDT

Jan 23: Third T20, Adelaide Oval, 2.10pm AEDT

Jan 27-30: Test match, Manuka Oval, 10am AEDT, 

Feb 3: First ODI, Manuka Oval (D/N), 2.10pm AEDT

Feb 6: Second ODI, Junction Oval, 10.05am AEDT

Feb 8: Third ODI, Junction Oval, 10.05am AEDT