WA trio receive Australia A honours

Wicketkeeper batter Maddy Darke, and offspinning pair Amy Edgar and Lilly Mills will feature in the Green v Gold match, which gives Australia's top domestic players an opportunity to hone their skills in the red-ball format.

Darke, Edgar and Mills have also been selected in Australia A's multi-format series against England A, with three T20, three 50-over and a four-day match to be played across Sydney venues Hurstville Oval and Cricket Central in Sydney.

The trio were chosen off the back of brilliant Women's National Cricket League campaigns, with all three players featuring near the top of the run-scoring or wicket-taking charts.

Darke produced yet another consistent campaign at the top of the order, as she continues to prove herself as one of the dominant top-order batters in the country.

The classy right-hander compiled 543 runs from 12 innings at 49.36, including five half-centuries. Darke’s season run tally is the highest -ever produced by a WA Woman in the National competition.

Edgar once again showed she is among the best spin bowlers in Australian domestic cricket, with the 26-year-old putting together a career-best wickets tally despite missing three matches due to injury, ending with 21 at an impressive average of 15.71.

After an interrupted start to the season, Edgar really found her groove after the WBBL break, capturing 19 wickets in her final eight matches, including a personal-best of 4/10 in a dominant seven-wicket victory over New South Wales at the WACA Ground.

Her wicket tally placed her third among competition bowlers, only bettered by South Australian Amanda-Jade Wellington (29 at 20.48) and Tasmania’s Maisy Gibson (23 at 20.65). 

Mills earned selection after finishing the WNCL with 19 scalps at 28, as the offspinner continues to be one of WA's most consistent performers.

She produced her second career five-wicket haul against Tasmania at the WACA Ground last October, taking 5-46 in a dominant display which saw her earn Player of the Match honours.

Australia Green v Gold Squads

Green
Lauren Cheatle (NSW)
Maddy Darke (WA)
Grace Dignam (ACT)
Nic Faltum (VIC) – captain
Sienna Ginger (QLD)
Ella Hayward (VIC)
Elsa Hunter (NSW)
Katie Mack (ACT) – vice-captain
Lilly Mills (WA)
Georgia Prestwidge (VIC)
Gabby Sutcliffe (ACT)
Rachel Trenaman (TAS)
Amanda-Jade Wellington (SA)

Gold
Maitlan Brown (NSW)
Hannah Darlington (NSW)
Sophie Day (VIC)
Emma de Broughe (SA)
Amy Edgar (WA)
Tess Flintoff (VIC)
Nicola Hancock (QLD)
Charli Knott (QLD) – captain
Anika Learoyd (NSW)
Bridget Patterson (SA) – vice-captain
Amy Smith (TAS)
Country Webb (SA)
Tahlia Wilson (NSW)

Australia A Squads

Australia A T20 Squad
Lauren Cheatle (Sydney Sixers)
Hannah Darlington (Sydney Thunder)
Sophie Day (Melbourne Stars)
Amy Edgar (Perth Scorchers)
Tess Flintoff (Melbourne Stars)
Siena Ginger (Brisbane Heat)
Heather Graham (Hobart Hurricanes) – captain
Charli Knott (Brisbane Heat) – vice-captain
Anika Learoyd (Sydney Thunder)
Rhys McKenna (Melbourne Stars)
Madeline Penna (Adelaide Strikers)
Amy Smith (Hobart Hurricanes)
Courtney Webb (Melbourne Renegades)
Tahlia Wilson (Sydney Thunder) – wicket-keeper

Australia A 50-over Squad
Lauren Cheatle (NSW)
Hannah Darlington (NSW)
Sophie Day (VIC)
Nicole Faltum (VIC) – captain / wicket-keeper
Tess Flintoff (VIC)
Sienna Ginger (QLD)
Nicola Hancock (QLD)
Ella Hayward (VIC)
Charli Knott (QLD) – vice-captain
Anika Learoyd (NSW)
Amy Smith (TAS)
Georgia Voll (QLD)
Courtney Webb (SA)
Tahlia Wilson (NSW)

Australia A Four-Day Squad
Maitlan Brown (NSW)
Lauren Cheatle (NSW)
Maddy Darke (WA)
Sophie Day (VIC)
Nicole Faltum (VIC) - vice-captain / wicket-keeper
Tess Flintoff (VIC)
Sienna Ginger (QLD)
Nicola Hancock (QLD)
Ella Hayward (VIC)
Charli Knott (QLD) – captain
Anike Learoyd (NSW)
Lilly Mills (WA)
Rachel Trenaman (TAS)
Tahlia Wilson (NSW)

National Selector, Shawn Flegler said:
“These series’ make up a crucial part of the elite player pathway, providing some our best and most promising domestic players with additional development opportunities and the chance to show selectors what they can do against strong international opposition.

“The National Selection Panel is always looking to the future as we’ve seen in recent years with Georgia Voll and Phoebe Litchfield transitioning into the Australian team with great success, so this is a great opportunity to get a look at a wide range of players.

“With a one-day world Cup in India this year and a T20 World Cup next year, the ‘A’ series in particular, will allow us to have a good look at players we think could push for selection.

Match Details

Australia Green v Gold
12-14 March, 10:30am, Australia Green v Gold, Phillip Oval, Canberra

Women’s Australia A v England A Series
26 March: First T20, 1pm, Hurstville Oval
28 March: Second T20, 1pm, Hurstville Oval
30 March: Third T20, 1pm, Hurstville Oval
2 April: First 50-over match, 10:30am, Cricket Central, Sydney
4 April: Second 50-over match, 10:30am, Cricket Central, Sydney
7 April: Third 50-over match, 10am, Cricket Central, Sydney
12-15 April: Four-day match, 10am, Cricket Central, Sydney