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Haynes' homecoming brings happy returns

Australia vice-captain Rachael Haynes has eased her way back into familiar surrounds at Loughborough, plundering an unbeaten 55 to help Australia home in their first Ashes warm-up

Arriving in Loughborough’s been something of a homecoming for Rachael Haynes and the Australian vice-captain wasted no time making herself comfortable at the crease on Wednesday.

Haynes played for Loughborough Lightning in last year’s domestic 20-over Super League and has been relishing a return to the town where she played – and lived with housemates and fellow imports Elyse Villani and Sophie Devine – this week.

Image Id: 6DC7892B8429443F9DF2D4F20EDF159B Image Caption: Rachael Haynes during her time playing for Loughborough Lightning in the Kia Super League in 2018

Not only hitting up favourite coffee haunt ‘Bom Bom’, but also in the middle at Haslegrave Ground, where Australia’s women’s Ashes campaign began in earnest with a warm-up against an England Academy side on Wednesday.

The ever-versatile Haynes proved she’s ready to slip in wherever she’s required in Australia’s order – despite describing herself as "a bit rusty" – striking an unbeaten 55 from 62 deliveries as the tourists cruised to a six-wicket win.

With Australia looking a little shaky at 3-49 in pursuit of the Academy’s 7-184 on a wet and cold Loughborough day, Haynes shared a 60-run stand with Ellyse Perry before an unbeaten 77-run partnership with Beth Mooney saw the tourists home in 31.2 overs.

"I was a bit rusty to be honest, it wasn’t as fluent as I would have liked," Haynes said on Wednesday.

"But I think at this time of year, it’s a bit like money in the bank spending time in the middle and it was really good to build a partnership with Beth at the end there.

"I really enjoyed playing here last year for the Lightning, so it’s nice to be back here, it feels a little bit familiar, which is good."

Haynes opened the batting alongside Alyssa Healy in Australia’s most recent one-day international series, seamlessly filling in for absent opener Nicole Bolton and averaging 43 in a series sweep.

All signs are pointing to a return to the middle-order for Haynes when the multi-format women’s Ashes get underway with the opening ODI in Leicester next Tuesday, with Bolton returning to the top of the order when Australia’s warm-up campaign started in Brisbane last week, with Haynes dropping back down to her usual spot at No.5 – a spot she remained in on Wednesday, despite Bolton being absent with a headcold, with Elyse Villani instead stepping in at the top.

Heavy rain throughout Tuesday and light showers on Wednesday morning had threatened to derail Australia’s preparation, with play delayed by three hours – a period the Australian squad filled with coffee runs, ball games and in Alyssa Healy’s case, some golf practice – but eventually a 39-over-a-side match was possible.

In all, Haynes was satisfied with the team’s first practice match on English soil, which also saw left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen collect 3-19 from six overs, while pace bowlers Nicola Carey, Delissa Kimmince and Tayla Vlaeminck were all given a chance to press their cases for inclusion.

"It was a good hit-out, it was good to get outside," Haynes said.

"We were probably a little bit rusty coming off our preseason but there were some good signs. I thought (Jonassen) bowled exceptionally well, she was really great, Tayla (Vlaeminck) in her second spell got some rhythm there.

"Megan Schutt, she bowled really nicely with the new ball and used her changes of pace really well too.

"It was pretty tough to score early when you’re starting your innings but I also thought our bowlers did pretty well to contain them."

Australia's Ashes squad raring to go in England

Australia will meet the England Academy team in a second and final warm-up on Friday at the same ground, with Haynes believes there’s room for improvement despite Wednesday’s one-sided result.

"I think it’s just about probably just refining a couple of things coming off preseason and not a lot of game time," she said.

"People are keen to spend time in the middle and also get some overs in, so I think that’ll be the main focus, just making sure our next game the batters cash in and the bowlers get some overs in."

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