Australia Name 20-Player Women's Squad For 2011-12

Australia Name 20-Player Women's Squad For 2011-12

Australia will be aiming to retain their ICC World Twenty20 crown in Sri Lanka next year

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Cricket Australia (CA) has named a 20-player Women's squad for the 2011-12 season with Jessica Jonassen and Sharon Millanta the only newcomers to the list.

Missing out are Kirsten Beams, Elyse Villani and Julie Woerner as Australia head into an important period ahead of the 2012 ICC Women's World Twenty20 and the 2013 ICC Women's World Cup.

"The WNSP has made a number of changes to the 2011-12 squad ahead of the Quad Series to be played in June," Women's National Selection Panel chair Christina Matthews said.

"Coming into the squad for the first time following their recent selection in the Australian team are Sarah Coyte, Annie Maloney and Meg Lanning, while Clea Smith makes a return after making herself available for selection.

"With an eye on the ICC World Twenty20 in 2012 and ICC Women’s World Cup in 2013, the WNSP has also selected Jess Jonassen following a terrific season for the Queensland Fire. Jess has previously been a member of the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars squad and has shown great improvement over the last two years.

"Also new to the squad is NSW Breakers pace bowler Sharon Millanta. The WNSP has recognised the need for greater pace bowling depth and after many years as a stalwart in the NSW side Millanta gets her chance at the next level.

"Omitted from the squad this year are spin bowler Kristen Beams and top order bats Elyse Villani and Julie Woerner. All three can consider themselves unlucky as there was great depth to select from this year. However the WNSP determined there was significant need for greater depth in the pace bowling options which unfortunately meant these three players had to be left out."

Sarah Coyte, Jonassen, Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry were also named in the Under-21 squad for the season.

Australia Women's squad 2011-12: Alex Blackwell, Jessica Cameron, Sarah Coyte, Lauren Ebsary, Sarah Elliott, Rene Farrell, Jodie Fields, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Julie Hunter, Jessica Jonassen, Meg Lanning, Annie Maloney, Sharon Millanta, Erin Osborne, Shelley Nitschke, Ellyse Perry, Leah Poulton, Clea Smith, Lisa Sthalekar

Australia Under-21 squad 2011-12: Nicola Carey, Tamara Clapton, Sarah Coyte, Katelyn Fryatt, Lisa Griffith, Kathryn Jenkin, Jessica Jonassen, Claire Koski, Meg Lanning, Beth Mooney, Hayley Pattison, Ellyse Perry, Angela Reakes, Megan Schutt, Kara Sutherland, Selena Tainton, Keeghan Tucker

© Cricket World 2011