The speedster has been bowling quickly at training and is ready to earn a first Baggy Green against England
Vlaeminck tipped to fire in one-off Ashes Test
Right-arm speedster Tayla Vlaeminck could be peaking at the "exact right time" ahead of this week’s one-off women’s Ashes Test, Australia bowling coach Ben Sawyer believes.
The 20-year-old has played just two limited-overs matches for Australia but is the quickest bowler in the Australian Ashes squad and has been terrorising her teammates in the nets since arriving in England.
In Sawyer’s opinion, her sheer pace could be the weapon Australia needs to blast out England’s strong batting line-up in the Test at Taunton’s County Ground beginning Thursday.
And all signs are pointing to it earning her a first Baggy Green.
"With the Test match cricket, the extra pace is going to be really important and she has that," Sawyer told cricket.com.au.
"It’s huge because it’s different, there’s not a whole lot of girls out there at the moment that bowl that quick, so anything different can be effective.
"It would be a huge advantage, especially if it’s a flat wicket, it’ll bring something into the game."
The speed gun has yet to be pulled out for Vlaeminck’s bowling this tour, but Sawyer says the Victorian is averaging around the 125km/h mark – putting her in the same company as the world’s fastest, including New Zealand’s Lea Tahuhu.
If there’s any doubting her pace is something special, you only needed to see the reactions of the Australians who faced her in the nets in Marlborough ahead of their three-day tour game against England Academy.
Visibly uncomfortable, her teammates couldn’t wait to escape – particularly when she and fellow quick Ellyse Perry were instructed to bowl short at a training session last Tuesday.
Her uber-aggressive approach paid off in the first innings of that practice match, when she collected 4-31, while she picked up 1-19 from four overs in the second.
"She’s been outstanding, she’s done exactly what we asked her to do," Sawyer said. "She’s really quick and we’re trying to get her to put the batters on the back foot.
"She’s been really effective this match, she’s had the batters jumping around and it’s been good to watch."
A Test debut would be a dream result for Vlaeminck, who at the age of 20 has already dealt with two knee reconstructions and a dislocated shoulder, while her 2018-19 summer was cut short when she suffered a partial ACL tear while playing for Melbourne Renegades in the WBBL.
Her rehabilitation from that injury means Vlaeminck is now stronger than ever before – and Sawyer revealed that her path back was focused around making sure she’d be fit and firing for this Test match.
"All her training and rehab has been set to this point, so hopefully she’s peaking at the exact right time," he said.
"I think (her body will hold up) because I don’t think we’d use her in huge spells, we’d use her in short, sharp ones because we want her to bowl as quick as she can.
"And to do that, she can’t be bowling too many overs. I can’t see her bowling a heap of overs if she’s selected, it’d be short sharp spells."
Speaking after day two of the warm-up on Friday, Vlaeminck admitted her thoughts couldn’t help but stray towards the potential of a Test debut.
"It’s hard not too (think about it) but I’m trying to enjoy being out here in the three-day game, I’m having a good time and I think we all are," Vlaeminck said.
"You want to perform to put your name in selection but at the end of the day it’s just good fun to be out here."
CommBank Ashes Tour of England
Australia lead England 6-0
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
England ODI squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Jenny Gunn, Amy Jones, Laura Marsh, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danni Wyatt
July 2: Australia won by two wickets
July 4: Australia won by four wickets
July 7: Australia won by 194 runs
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