Wareham looms as Aussies' ace in the pack

Australia coach Matthew Mott believes he's pinpointed a weakness in England's batting line-up – and he reckons he's got just the weapon to exploit it in the upcoming women's Ashes.

The Australian squad touched down in the United Kingdom on Sunday and had their first hit-out of the tour at Loughborough University – their base for the next week – on Monday.

But planning for the multi-format, seven-match series has long been in the works and Mott believes 20-year-old Victorian leg-spinner Georgia Wareham could prove the key to thwarting England's powerful – and entirely right-handed – top seven, which includes captain Heather Knight, star 'keeper-batter Sarah Taylor, in-form openers Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont, allrounder Natalie Sciver and the ever-threatening Danni Wyatt and Katherine Brunt.

Wareham has been a revelation since bursting into the Australian squad last September and was in ominous form during last week's warm-up matches against Australia A in Brisbane, picking up 4-21 and 1-31 across two one-day matches.

"I think she's going to be a key player over here on these wickets,” Mott said in Loughborough on Monday.

"I think she could be a real menace for the English batters and all our stats say that as well.

"It's exciting to be able to unleash her on England.

"She turns the ball away and she asks the question both sides of the bat, which is what we've asked for.

"In all three formats I think she asks some really strong questions of the batters all the time, she doesn't really bowl a bad ball and she just gets into her work and is a pretty no-fuss cricketer who gets the job done."

Wareham has played England just once but made a major impression, collecting 2-11 from three overs in last November's T20 World Cup final in Antigua.

In consecutive balls at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, she took the wickets of Lauren Winfield and Sophia Dunkley, having already removed the dangerous Jones with a brilliant direct-hit run out.

The Mortlake product will have to wait until the opening one-day international at Leicester's Grace Road on July 2 for her first look at the England senior squad, but she'll have an early chance to impress on Wednesday in a 50-over warm-up game against an England Academy team.

Another youngster hoping to impress will be right-arm quick Tayla Vlaeminck, who bowled with impressive pace in her first hit-out on English soil on Monday.

The 20-year-old forced her way into the Ashes squad through her form at training camps in Brisbane across the last month, having recovered from the knee injury that prematurely ended her 2018-19 summer.

"She really smashed it in the preseason at the NCC and just put a case together that we couldn't deny," Mott said.

"(The warm-ups) will be a big couple of days for a couple of players."

Another player out to make a statement in the two practice matches will be one-day opener Nicole Bolton, who has returned to the Australian ranks after sitting out the one-day series against New Zealand earlier this year for person reasons.

The Western Australian was given the opportunity to return to the top of the order alongside Alyssa Healy in the Brisbane trial games – scoring 72 in the second match after being dismissed for a golden duck in the first.

Australia's strong batting stocks mean nothing can be taken for granted and Rachael Haynes impressed when she was elevated to the top of the order against the White Ferns, averaging 43 across the three games – but Mott suggested Bolton's record (she averages 43.93 in 47 ODIs including four centuries) had her in pole position to reclaim her usual place in the XI.

"I was really pleased for Nic Bolton that she came out in that second innings and got some runs, she's been out of the team for a little while and got a first baller in the first game, so like any batter you start to question your preparation.

"But she batted really well in that game … her record over a long period of time is outstanding, she's a match-winner and she's scored hundreds and she's really evolved over the last couple of years.

"All the things we've asked for her to do she's done and getting 70 the other day, that'll give her confidence getting back in amongst the group."

Australia will train again on Tuesday before taking on the England Academy team from 10.30am local time on Wednesday, with a second warm-up against the same opposition to follow on Friday.

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