Haynes, Wareham star in Aussie Ashes warm-up

Rachael Haynes and Georgia Wareham have found early form ahead of Australia’s upcoming Commonwealth Bank Women’s Ashes tour, starring in a warm-up match against Australia A.

The 50-over hit-out at Brisbane’s Wynnum Oval is a world away from Leicester, where Australia’s multi-format Ashes campaign will officially begin with the opening ODI on July 2, but it was an ideal chance for Meg Lanning’s squad – and the ‘A’ group, who will tour the United Kingdom alongside the senior squad – to blow out the cobwebs.

With Australia batting first, returning opener Nicole Bolton, who re-joined Alyssa Healy at the top of the order after missing February’s one-dayers against New Zealand, departed first ball, bowled by right-arm quick Maitlan Brown.

But opening partner Healy gave an early indication that she’s set to carry on her Belinda Clark Award-winning form of the last 12 months, striking nine boundaries in her 55-ball 49.

Skipper Lanning (18 from 24) and Ellyse Perry (10 from 26) didn’t make the sort of impact they’d have liked – bowled by Belinda Vakarewa and Heather Graham respectively – but vice-captain Rachael Haynes steadied the ship, top-scoring with 81 form 84.

Haynes’ attacking innings included five fours and two sixes as she shared a 98-run stand with No.10 Delissa Kimmince, who finished unbeaten on 38 (43), helping Australia to 9-264 from their 50 overs.

"It was tough actually, it was a bit wet and the pitch had a bit in it for the bowlers," Haynes said following the match.

"It was nice to spend a bit of time in the middle ... I didn’t feel in the whole time to be honest, it was really tough and their bowlers bowled quite well into the wicket and it was just sort of holding.

"It was nice to have a really good partnership there with DK (Kimmince) and get the team into a winning position. We spend a fair bit of time inside during the off-season so it’s nice to actually go out and be playing some games on an oval.

"(Healy) hasn't missed a beat, that's for sure, she batted beautifully early on against the new ball."

Opening for Australia A, Ashes squad member Elyse Villani - given time in the middle with the 'A' side - impressed in the chase scoring 45 (79) before falling to a brilliant catch from Bolton.

She put on 73 for the first wicket with Georgia Redmayne (36 off 47), with some sharp fielding required to run Redmayne out and conjure the first breakthrough.

Australia A lost regular wickets as the next seven batters failed to reach double figures, Wareham wreaking havoc taking 4-21 from her six overs as the ‘A’ team were dismissed for 161 in 41.3 overs, sealing a 103-run win for Australia.

"Wareham's been really good, even in the preseason she's been bowling really well, so it was nice she was able to take that out there today," Haynes said.

"(These games) are about trying out all the things we've been practicing, it’s our last opportunity before we leave.

"It's about having the confidence to try the things been working on, so it's pleasing players were able to do that today and hopefully they can get more out of Wednesday as well."

Image Id: AAD56A2D21424CF1B117DBEB94A1B2A3 Image Caption: Alyssa Healy batted well for her 49 // Getty

Australia will meet Australia A again on Wednesday in a second and final 50-over warm up before the Ashes touring party departs for the UK on Friday.

The Australia A squad have been forced to make a change to their 13-player group to tour the UK, with young quick Annabel Sutherland ruled out after suffering a significant sprain to her left ankle. The Victorian has been replaced in the squad by wicketkeeper-batter Maddy Darke.

Australia

Alyssa Healy c Redmayne b Molineux 49 (55b, 9x4)

Nicole Bolton b Brown 0 (1b)

Meg Lanning b Vakarewa 18 (24b, 3x4)

Ellyse Perry b Graham 10 (26b, 1x4)

Rachael Haynes c Graham b Strano 81 (84b, 5x4, 2x6)

Beth Mooney c & b Strano 19 (29b, 2x4)

Ashleigh Gardner lbw Graham 5 (10b, 1x4)

Nicola Carey c Dooley b Strano 6 (14b, 1x4)

Jess Jonassen lbw Molineux 13 (14b, 2x4)

Delissa Kimmince not out 38 (43b, 4x4)

Extras 25 (17wd, 7lb, 1b)

Total 9-264 (Overs: 50)

FOW: 1-32 (Bolton 3.1); 2-66 (Lanning 11.3); 3-85 (Perry 17.2); 4-85 (Healy 18.2); 5-130 (Mooney 27.3); 6-137 (Gardner 29.4); 7-149 (Carey 33.2); 8-166 (Jonassen 36.3); 9-264 (Haynes 49.6)

Bowling

S Johnson: 8-0-58-0 (3wd)

M Brown: 8-0-43-1 (3wd)

B Vakarewa: 4-1-14-1

A Wellington: 7-1-24-0 (2wd)

H Graham: 8-1-43-2 (5wd)

S Molineux: 8-0-47-2 (4wd)

M Strano: 7-0-27-3

Australia A

Elyse Villani c Bolton b Wareham 45 (79b, 4x4)

Georgia Redmayne run out (Kimmince) 36 (47b, 6x4)

Tahlia McGrath lbw Jonassen 4 (6b, 1x4)

Heather Graham c Lanning b Gardner 8 (15b, 1x4)

Rachael Trenaman c Gardner b Vlaeminck 3 (7b)

Erin Burns c Healy b Wareham 0 (5b)

Josie Dooley run out (Schutt) 2 (14b)

Maddy Darke c Carey b Wareham 5 (12b)

Sammy-Jo Johnson c Haynes b Schutt 8 (22b)

Molly Strano c Haynes b Carey 15 (24b, 1x4)

Amanda-Jade Wellington not out 17 (18b, 3x4)

Extras 18 (12wd, 6lb)

Total 161 (Overs: 41.3)

FOW: 1-73 (Redmayne 15.5); 2-80 (McGrath 17.6); 3-93 (Graham 21.5); 4-105 (Trenaman 24.5); 5-107 (Burns 26.2); 6-108 (Villani 26.5); 7-115 (Dooley 30.3); 8-116 (Darke 30.6); 9-136 (Johnson 37.4); 10-161 (Strano 41.3)

Bowling

M Schutt: 6-1-28-1 (1wd)

E Perry: 4-1-16-0

T Vlaeminck: 7-0-21-1 (1wd)

J Jonassen: 5-0-16-1 (1wd)

N Carey: 5.3-0-29-1 (4wd)

A Gardner: 4-0-15-1 (2wd)

G Wareham: 6-1-21-4 (1wd)

D Kimmince: 4-0-9-0 (2wd)

CommBank Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

June 26: England Academy v Australia, Loughborough

June 28:  England Academy v Australia, Loughborough

July 2: First ODI, Grace Road, Leicester

July 4: Second ODI, Grace Road, Leicester

July 7:  Third ODI, St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury

July 11-13: England Academy v Australia, Marlborough College, Swindon

July 18-21: Only Test, The County Ground, Taunton

July 26: First T20, County Ground, Chelmsford

July 28: Second T20, The County Ground, Hove

July 31: Third T20, Bristol County Ground, Bristol

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