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Australia selectors facing Meg-a decision

Lanning's availability, a new vice-captain and T20I changes the big questions as Australia selectors decide their limited-overs squads for India

Australia coach Matthew Mott has promised some “interesting” selections when the ODI and T20I squads for next month’s tour of India are revealed on Wednesday, but the big question remains: Will Meg Lanning play?

The injured Australia captain sat out the final round of the 50-over Women’s National Cricket League last weekend as she continues her recovery from shoulder surgery, with selectors eager to wait until the last possible moment before making a decision on whether she will make her return against India.

Lanning went under the knife in August last year and says her recovery is going to plan, but Australia are understandably taking a cautious approach with the star batter, with a World T20 tournament looming in the Caribbean in November.

One change to both squads is already confirmed, after vice-captain Alex Blackwell announced her international retirement on Monday.

A new deputy leader will be announced when the squads are revealed, but which player is given the nod in India could well depend on captain Lanning’s availability.

Mix Tape: Alex Blackwell

The front-runner for the vice-captaincy role longer-term is Rachael Haynes, who stood in as skipper during the Ashes when Lanning was unavailable.

Australia will play three ODIs before taking part in a T20I tri-series also featuring England while in India.

Little is expected to change – aside from the absence of Blackwell and potential inclusion of Lanning – when it comes to the Southern Stars ODI squad, who most recently completed a 2-1 series win over England during the one-day portion of the multi-format Women’s Ashes.

Another absentee will be teenage quick Lauren Cheatle, who has been sidelined with a back injury, with fellow NSW speedster Belinda Vakarewa a likely replacement.

More intriguing will be the T20I selections, with Mott telling cricket.com.au last week that now is the time to “pick and stick” to the group of players the national selectors believe will play a major role in Australia’s mission to win both the 2018 and 2020 World T20 titles.

“There’s going to be some interesting selections coming up, because we’ve got a lot of players who we can pick from,” Mott said.

“We’ll be playing a lot more T20 matches in the next 18 months and there’ll be a big focus on that and a good thing coming out of the WBBL is a lot of players have put their hand up.

“It’s one of those selections where there’s so many ways we could go. There are a lot of players in form so from a philosophy point of view, who do we see making the most impact over the next two years?”

Best of the catches in WBBL|03

A long-term focus geared towards the home World T20 in 2020 might see Australia opt for youth over some of the more experienced members of the Ashes T20I squad, which included 33-year-old Sarah Aley – although her performances during WBBL|03, where she topped the wickets tally, state a strong case for inclusion.

Among those from outside that T20I squad – which lost the 20-over leg of the Ashes to England 2-1 – to impress during WBBL|03 were Renegades allrounder Sophie Molineux and quick Maitlan Brown, alongside Thunder trio Naomi Stalenberg, Sam Bates and Nicola Carey.

Molineux was named the Rebel Young Gun for WBBL|03, while powerful batter Stalenberg and allrounder Carey had standout seasons to help the Thunder reach the semi-finals.

And given Australia’s incumbent batters occupied six of the top seven run-scoring spots during WBBL|03 – and that’s with Lanning not playing – it’s those bowling and allrounder positions set to cause the most debate.

“Across the board a lot of our batters were up there which is good to see, now it’s the bowlers who need to try and take that to the next level,” Mott said last week.

“There are always areas we can tinker with and improve to get the best-balanced side out.

“There’s also a number of allrounders out there putting their hands up, which is good for versatility.”

Carey blasts 17-ball 47

Australia’s ODI squad will depart for India in early March, with the first one-dayer to be played in Vadodara on March 12.

Possible Australia ODI squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Kristen Beams, Nicole Bolton, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

Possible Australia T20I squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Naomi Stalenberg, Molly Strano, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

Australia tour of India

Warm-up match v India A, BKC Ground, Mumbai, March 8

Warm-up match v India A, BKC Ground, Mumbai, March 6

ODI series

First ODI Vadodara International Cricket Stadium, March 12

Second ODI Vadodara International Cricket Stadium, March 15

Third ODI Vadodara International Cricket Stadium, March 18

T20I tri-series

First T20I Australia v India, Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, March 22

Second T20I Australia v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 23

Third T20I India v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 25

Fourth T20I Australia v India, Brabourne Stadium, March 26

Fifth T20I Australia v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 28

Sixth T20I India v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 29

Final Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, March 31