Vakarewa, Aley named for women's World Cup
May 18, 2017 - 5:36 AM Belinda Vakarewa and Sarah Aley are yet to play international cricket but the fast bowlers will shape the Southern Stars' World Cup defence next month.Superstars Meg Lanning, Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry headline the 15-player squad announced on Thursday.
Rachael Haynes returns from an ankle injury, while Vakarewa and 32-year-old Aley are both set too make international debuts.
The NSW pair will form part of a pace battery that has been reshaped in the absence of Lauren Cheatle (injury) and Rene Farrell (retirement).
Vakarewa, who is 19, only made her state debut last October but has since turned plenty of heads.
"She adds some extra firepower with her pace and we're excited to see what she can do," selector Shawn Flegler said.
"Sarah Aley will also add some extra depth to our bowling attack and brings an incredible amount of experience to the group, which is invaluable in a tournament like this."
Australia will train in Queensland for a fortnight before travelling to England for the showpiece tournament, with their first match on June 26 against West Indies.
The final is on July 23 at Lord's, with most of the event falling outside the current contract period.
However, the ongoing dispute regarding the new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will not affect players' participation as Cricket Australia has opted to pay them up front.
"Selectors have chosen this squad irrespective and independent of the status of the MOU," team performance manager Pat Howard said.
The Southern Stars won a record sixth women's World Cup in 2013 but the chasing pack is drawing closer, as evidenced by Australia's loss in last year's World Twenty20 final.
Australia's 15-player squad: Sarah Aley, Kristen Beams, Alex Blackwell, Nicole Bolton, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani and Amanda-Jade Wellington.
Source: AAP
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