Aussies ready to press accelerator for T20 switch

Allrounder Sophie Molineux is confident Australia can quickly make the switch back to the shortest format of the game as they look to continue their undefeated run in the multi-format women's Ashes.

Molineux is still basking in the glow of her successful debut in the Baggy Green last week after taking four wickets in the drawn one-off Test in Taunton.

The 21-year old Victorian was a late arrival on this ongoing women's Ashes tour, only called into the group ahead of the Test match after missing initial selection for the three-game ODI leg as she recovered from shoulder surgery.

But now she's back with her Australian teammates, good luck persuading her to be anywhere else.

"It's been great (being back in the squad), I certainly missed it," Molineux told The Unplayable Podcast.

"To be back here, it's what I wanted from the start and it's been a long five months (of recovery) but it's all worth it now when you're here and wearing the Baggy Green and playing with your mates again.

"I'm really looking forward to what's to come over the next couple of weeks, we've still got a big job to do.

"So we're all pretty focused and at the same time we're really enjoying it."

The final leg of the multi-format series begins on Friday in Chelmsford. Australia have already ensured they'll retain the Ashes after taking an 8-2 lead following the drawn Test, but they have a chance to not only win the series outright over the coming week, they can also pick up a couple of slices of history along the way.

First, they can become the first team to ever defeat England's women at their 'fortress', the Essex County Ground in Chelmsford.

And, if they win all three 20-over matches, can become the first team to go through a multi-format women's Ashes series undefeated.

"It would mean a lot (to beat England at Chelmsford), it would be really nice to get the job done in the first T20," she said.

"It sounds like there's going to be a strong contingent of English people there supporting them, so to go against the grain and pinch that one would mean a lot."

Both Australia and England will need to make a snappy transition from Test cricket to the T20 format, but Molineux cannot see it being an issue for the tourists.

Friday's game will be their first T20I since winning the T20 World Cup final in Antigua last November, a match where they triumphed over England by eight wickets to claim their fourth title.

"It feels like a long time ago, a lot has happened since then," Molineux said. "We're all hanging out to get back in that format, we've got some pretty fond memories of our last T20 so hopefully we can keep that momentum going.

"We play a lot of T20 cricket so naturally we've got that attacking T20 nature to our game … so I don't expect we'll have any issues switching back."

England – who can still draw the series if they sweep the T20Is, although it won't be enough to reclaim the trophy from Australia – named their 20-over squad on Tuesday, recalling explosive opener Danielle Wyatt and handing a maiden call-up to 20-year-old allrounder Mady Villiers. 

Essex local Villiers scored an unbeaten half-century batting at No.9 for the England Academy in a tour game against Australia earlier this month.

"It's almost like a one-off IT20 series and we need to give it everything across these last three matches," England captain Heather Knight said.

"We came back strongly in Australia in 2017 and it would feel very different if we ended up at 8-8. That has to be our aim now and we want to finish strongly

The first T20I at Chelmsford will get underway at 7.15pm Friday local time (4.15am Saturday AEST), with broadcast live on the Nine Network and ABC Radio.

England T20 squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Jenny Gunn, Amy Jones, Laura Marsh, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Mady Villiers, Lauren Winfield, Danni Wyatt.

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, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

England Test squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Kirstie Gordon, Amy Jones, Laura Marsh, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole (vc), Lauren Winfield, Sarah Taylor

Australia lead England 8-2

First ODI: Australia won by two wickets

Second ODI: Australia won by four wickets

Third ODI:  Australia won by 194 runs

Only Test: Match Drawn

July 26: First T20, County Ground, Chelmsford

July 28: Second T20, The County Ground, Hove

July 31: Third T20, Bristol County Ground, Bristol