Tough selection calls loom for star-studded Aussies

Coach Matthew Mott has conceded "tough decisions" will need to be made when it comes to picking Australia's XI for the first Ashes T20I in Adelaide on Thursday, including the possible absence of the country’s most decorated player, Ellyse Perry.

A middle-order selection squeeze is looming due to the return of Rachael Haynes, who missed the T20I leg against India in October while on parental leave, and the hot recent form of allrounder Tahlia McGrath, who seized her opportunity against India in the Australian vice-captain's absence.

With Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning and Ash Gardner all certain selections in the top six, Perry could be squeezed out as the Australians look towards more destructive batters in their middle order.

Since Australia's last T20 World Cup win in early 2020, Perry has struck more runs that both Haynes and McGrath, hitting 783 at 39.2 across two WBBL campaigns and two international series, but those runs have come at a strike rate of just 94.5.

Meanwhile, Haynes has hit 398 runs at 33.5 across international and domestic T20 cricket in the same period (but missed an entire WBBL season), striking at 109.3, while McGrath has hit 651 runs at 29.6, striking at 102.4.

But the South Australian's improvement this summer has been dramatic, and her 424 runs across the India series and WBBL came at a rate of 118.

Notably, Perry bats in the top three for the Sixers, while McGrath and Haynes both occupy middle-order roles for their Big Bash sides.

Despite the numbers trending in favour of Haynes and McGrath, choosing to leave out Perry – the ICC’s T20I Player of the Decade who has played 126 T20Is for her country across 14 years – would be a significant call.

Beth Mooney's serious jaw injury has added another layer of complexity to the decision, with the option for one-day opener Haynes to be elevated to join Healy at the top of the order, which would ease the pressure on the middle-order and allow all three of Haynes, McGrath and Perry to play.

However, Mott indicated on Tuesday he's strongly considering keeping Haynes in the middle order, noting her success as both a pinch hitter and as anchor in recent years, with one of Elyse Villani or Georgia Redmayne the leading contenders to take Mooney’s opening spot on Thursday.

Mott says Perry "definitely" remains in the mix to play on Thursday, labelling her "probably the greatest player that's ever played the game of women's cricket".

But he added increased depth of talent was allowing selectors to move towards greater specialisation across formats.

"I think people need to understand that now that we've got this depth in Australian women's cricket, we are able to make some more specific decisions," Mott said.

"Ellyse is someone who's actually called for it in our group, for us to be really specific on our teams.

"To even have these conversations just shows how far the depth within our squad has come and we look at as a real positive, not a negative."

The focus on Perry’s sub-100 strike rate is important given Mott has publicly flagged the need for his team to find an "extra edge" and "dynamic cricketers" to routinely reach totals above 160, a sentiment echoed in Adelaide on Tuesday.

"The number of balls faced (by the middle order) is really critical," Mott said.

"It's not necessarily about picking the best batters in those No.5, 6 and 7 spots … it's the players with the ability to score 15 runs off 10 balls.

"It's very difficult to be a dominant player across all three formats ... it's something I keep going back to, but we've got the depth to make some tough decisions and we've made a real commitment as a selection group to make those tough decisions."

McGrath, who was player of the series against India and named in the WBBL|07 Team of the Tournament, used Tuesday's warm-up matches against Australia A to strengthen her claims to hold her spot, striking 31 off 14 deliveries batting at No.5.

Haynes, who has a point to prove after border closures prevented her playing any part in WBBL|07, was dismissed for 10.

Perry – who did not hit her previous heights for the Sydney Sixers in the last Big Bash, scoring 358 runs at a strike rate of 91.32 – did not play on Tuesday after her arrival into Adelaide was delayed by a COVID-19 scare.

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes v England

Australia Ashes squad: Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes (vc), 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

Jan 22: Second T20, Adelaide Oval

Jan 23: Third T20, Adelaide Oval

Jan 27-30: Test match, Manuka Oval

Feb 3: First ODI, Manuka Oval

Feb 6: Second ODI, Junction Oval

Feb 8: Third ODI, Junction Oval

Australia A v England A

Australia A squad: Georgia Redmayne (c), Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Phoebe Litchfield, Katie Mack, Courtney Sippel, Molly Strano, Elyse Villani, Georgia Voll, Courtney Webb, Amanda-Jade Wellington

England A squad: Emily Arlott, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Alice Davidson-Richards, Georgia Elwiss, Kirstie Gordon, Eve Jones, Beth Langston, Emma Lamb, Bryony Smith, Ellie Threlkeld, Issy Wong

Jan 20: First T20, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide

Jan 21: Second T20, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide

Jan 23: Third T20, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide

Jan 28: First OD, Philip Oval, Canberra

Jan 30: Second OD, Philip Oval, Canberra

Feb 2: Third OD, Philip Oval, Canberra