Meg Lanning returns to Australian squad for India tour

Australia has received a huge boost ahead of their upcoming tour of India. Their regular skipper Meg Lanning has returned to the team for the forthcoming series.

Lanning has been on the sidelines since the 2017 World Cup semi-final against India. She later underwent a shoulder surgery. The right-handed batswoman features in both the ODI and T20I squads announced by the Australian selectors on Wednesday (February 21).

Rachael Haynes has been named as the vice-captain following the retirement of Alex Blackwell. The squad also includes two uncapped players in the form of Sophie Molineux and Nicola Carey.

Shawn Flegler, the national selector for women’s Cricket Australia, gave an update on Lanning’s injury.

“Meg’s rehab has been progressing well. She’s back to her old self with the bat and with a few weeks until the first match, we’re confident she’ll be right to play when the times comes,” Shawn Flegler, the national selector, said.

He also confirmed that Meg Lanning would take the captaincy role.

“Meg will resume the captaincy. And we’re extremely fortunate to have Rach as her deputy after doing a fantastic job as stand-in skipper during the Women’s Ashes. She’ll be a great sounding board for Meg and will continue to drive the standards of the team,” Flegler asserts.

However, the team from Down Under will miss the services of Tahlia McGrath. The all-rounder has been ruled out of the tour with a back problem. McGrath experienced back pain during the final round of WNCL. Later, scans showed a recurrence of bone edema in her lumbar spine.

“It’s unfortunate for Tahlia that she was unavailable for selection, she showed great skills and character during the Ashes and in domestic cricket so the focus for her now will be to get her body right with a view to the World T20,” Flegler said.

Australia will play three ODIs and a T20 tri-series featuring England and the hosts. The ODI series will start on March 12 while the tri-series will start on March 22. The final will be played on March 31.

Australia ODI squad:

Meg Lanning (captain), Rachael Haynes (deputy), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

Australia T20 squad:

Meg Lanning (captain), Rachael Haynes (deputy), Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Naomi Stalenberg, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

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