The Australian hierarchy has begun a process to find a full-time replacement for Lanning and the announcement will be made closer to the tour. The one-off Test, Australia’s first in India since 1984, begins on December 21 in Mumbai before the three-match ODI and T20I series.
“Alyssa Healy’s finger is healing, but she remains in a splint and our medical team continues to closely monitor her recovery,” national team coach Shawn Flegler said. “We’re obviously very hopeful that she will be available for testing, but those decisions are still a while away.”
Brown has been on the sidelines since suffering a hamstring injury against the West Indies in the first ODI in Brisbane on October 8. He has not been available for defending WBBL champions Adelaide Strikers but has returned to bowling and is ready to be fit for the first Test. .
Brown could share new-ball duties with the quick return of Cheatle, who has not played for Australia since March 2019. Cheatle, who made his international debut as a 17-year-old in 2016, endured a torrid career with injuries, including four rebuilds from shoulder in five years.
But he earned a place in the team thanks to a stellar WBBL season that saw him pick up 19 wickets in 10 games to lead the Sydney Sixers.
“I just feel a little more in rhythm, not just stopping and starting every three or four games,” Cheatle said a few days before the team was named. “I think that shows in terms of performance, I feel like I’m in a little more rhythm and I’m not making silly mistakes that I might have made in the past.
“I think that also comes with experience. I’m 10 years into my career and I hope there are many more to come. I’m excited to be on the park and do my part to the best of my ability.”
Cheatle, who was only named in the Test squad, produced an eye-catching performance with 11 wickets in five matches during the Australia A tour of England in June.
“Lauren has experience playing in India and offers another fast bowling option, particularly in regards to the Test match, which is the format she has been selected for,” Flegler said. “At this time, we are planning for Lauren to return to Australia ahead of the white-ball formats to play the WNCL.”
Australia’s team almost mirrors the line-up that drew the Ashes series in July. Top-order batsman Phoebe Litchfield, 20, is likely to step up and take Lanning’s place, while Australia’s host of stars were automatic selections and looming large on expected turning surfaces. .
The matches will be played at two grounds in Mumbai.
“A multi-format series against India in India is exciting and presents a great challenge for our group,” Flegler said. “Most of our players, through last December’s bilateral series or the WPL, have played cricket in Mumbai for the last 12 months and have experienced the conditions.
“We will have a chance to acclimatise to the conditions and our preparation in Mumbai will include a warm-up match against a local rival.”
australia team: Darcie Brown, Lauren Cheatle (test only), Heather Graham, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris (T20), Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham