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Women's Cricket in Australia
MEDIA ADVISORY
22 November 2004
Twins in line to play for Australia in India challenge
Australia's on-field rivalry with India continues next month, as Australia's female cricket team - the AIS-Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars - embark on a seven match one-day international (ODI) tour of the subcontinent.
The women's national selection panel today named a 13-player squad for the series, which includes identical twins Kate and Alex Blackwell.
While Alex has eight one-day internationals under her belt, twin sister Kate is yet to make her Australian debut. If she does on this tour, the pair will become the first female twins to play cricket for Australia.
Twenty-seven year old left-hand batter Shelley Nitschke also comes into the squad in the second of two changes to the 13-player team that took on New Zealand in February this year.
Kate Blackwell replaces Shannon Cunneen, while Nitschke has been called up for Kris Britt who has made herself unavailable for the tour due to personal reasons.
The series looms as a challenge for India who have defeated Australia only once in 14 limited-over encounters, and not since 1995.
Meanwhile, another milestone is on the horizon for captain Belinda Clark, who needs to play a further five matches to become the first Australian female to make 100 ODI appearances.
The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad is:
Player State Player type ODI caps
Belinda Clark (captain) Victoria RHB 95
Karen Rolton (vice-captain) South Australia LHB, LM 73
Alex Blackwell New South Wales RM, RHB 8
Kate Blackwell New South Wales RM, RHB 0
Leonie Coleman New South Wales RHB, WKT 5
Shelley Nitschke South Australia LHB, SLA 0
Cathryn Fitzpatrick Victoria RF, RHB 73
Julie Hayes New South Wales RM, RHB 29
Melanie Jones Victoria RHB 44
Lisa Keightley New South Wales RHB, OB 59
Clea Smith Victoria RHB, RM 15
Lisa Sthalekar New South Wales RHB, OB 23
Emma Twining New South Wales RM, RHB 16
Team management: Stephen Jenkin (coach), Claire Connolly (team manager), Barry Neivandt (assistant coach), Lisa Ross (physiotherapist), Sally Bailey (physical conditioning coordinator).
Chairperson of selectors Margaret Jennings said both Nitschke and Blackwell had earned their selection in the squad.
"With Kris Britt being unavailable for selection, we needed someone who could be a genuine option with bat and ball, and Shelley has performed well over the past few seasons to deserve the opportunity," said Jennings.
"We also looked at our middle-order batting and Kate's performances so far this year have earned her the chance to see what she can do in the team. She's a skilled fielder as well and we hope that will add something extra to the mix."
Blackwell has scored 115 runs (and is yet to be dismissed) from three innings in the middle-order this season for the New South Wales Breakers, sharing in some match-winning partnerships with sister Alex.
Nitschke has scored runs under pressure for the South Australian Scorpions (99) and has bowled her left-arm orthodox spinners with efficiency.
Commenting on her selection, Kate Blackwell said: "It's going to be a challenging tour but this is a fantastic chance for me. I've always dreamed of representing Australia and to potentially do that alongside Alex will be a great moment for us."
Nitschke was delighted to receive the news of her selection: "This is my second year in the Australian squad but the first time I've been picked to tour with the national team so I am really looking forward to the opportunity to play in India."
Australia and India's most recent contest was part of the four-nation ODI tournament in New Zealand in February 2003, with the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars prevailing by nine wickets.
Australia's record in India is equally impressive. The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars won seven straight matches en-route to the World Cup title in 1997 in front of 100,000 fans at Eden Gardens in Calcutta.
On its last tour to India (aside from the World Cup) in 1984, Australia recorded a 4-0 series sweep.
The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars team was chosen by the three-person national selection panel consisting of former Australian players Margaret Jennings (Chairperson) and Wendy Weir, and former Australian coach Peter Bakker.
The 2004-05 season shapes as a busy period for the women's team. Following its tour of India, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars are scheduled to play New Zealand in three limited-over matches in Perth (10, 12, 13 March) in the annual clash for the Rose Bowl trophy.
The team then departs for the Women's World Cup in South Africa in late March before embarking on an Ashes campaign in August (TBC) 2005.
The fixture for the tour of India is:
9 December Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v India 'A' Mysore
11 December Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v India Mysore
13 December Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v India Mysore
16 December Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v India Mumbai
19 December Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v India Vapi
22 December Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v India Ahmedabad
24 December Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v India Aurangabad
28 December Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v India Chennai
Media note:
To determine the media availability of Kate Blackwell, please contact Daniel McDougall at Cricket New South Wales on 0425 275 795.
To determine the media availability of Shelley Nitschke, please contact Jane Elliott at the South Australian Cricket Association on 0413 481 142.Player key:
RHB - right-hand bat, LHB - left-hand bat, WKT - wicket-keeper, LB - right-arm leg break and googly bowler, SLA -slow left-arm orthodox spinner, OB - right-arm off-spinner, RM - right-arm medium, RF - right-arm fast, LM - left-arm medium.
For further information please contact:
Stephanie Beltrame
Corporate Communications Officer
Cricket Australia
Tel: 03 9653 9927 or 0409 524 482.
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