Australia call up Molineux for Women’s Ashes

Both Vlaeminck and Bolton had missed the ODI series against New Zealand earlier this year. Vlaeminck was then recovering from knee injury, while Bolton was on a break from the game that began during last season’s Women’s Big Bash League. All-rounder Sophie Molineux missed out, as she continues on her path to recovery from shoulder surgery. She will, however, be a part of the ‘A’ squad that travels to England concurrently.

Australia named the same 14 members for all three formats. The Women’s Ashes is set to be contested across three ODIs, a one-off Test, followed by three T20Is, but the presence of the ‘A’ team should give them enough resources to dig into, should the need arise.

This is set to be the first Ashes series for Vlaeminck, who has made waves in domestic cricket with her raw pace. She is still new at the international level, having played just a game each in the two limited-overs formats.

"Tayla was under an injury cloud, but she’s back bowling and has had a terrific off-season up in Brisbane, so we’re really excited to see what she can do in English conditions," national selector Shawn Flegler said.

"Sophie has been doing everything she could do prove her fitness, having had a shoulder reconstruction back in February, but she still needs a bit more time to make sure she’s 100 per cent, so she’ll travel to England with the Australia A side.

"We’re fortunate to be able to take an Australia A side to England as well, which will give us flexibility with the squad as we move through the various formats."

In the one-off Test, Vlaeminck could be one of several new faces, with all of Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Delissa Kimmince, Georgia Wareham, along with Vlaeminck, uncapped at the level.

The Australia A squad, meanwhile, contains several members of the National Performance Squad. The A team will play a round of 50-over and 20-over matches against England and an England Academy side, as well as a three-day red-ball game against the hosts, which will serve as a warm-up for the Ashes.

The Australian squad will get together in Brisbane on 13 June for a camp, before departing for England a week later, on 21 June.

UPDATE: Off-spinning all-rounder Sophie Molineux has been added to Australia's squad after the ODI series and ahead of the Test match.

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes, Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

Australia A squad: Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Josie Dooley, Heather Graham, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Georgia Redmayne, Molly Strano, Annabel Sutherland, Rachel Trenaman, Belinda Vakarewa, Amanda-Jade Wellington