Commonwealth Games 2022: World Champion Australia announce FULL-FLEDGE World Cup squad for CWG 2022, ‘Targeting GOLD Medal'

Commonwealth Games 2022: Australia will begin a new era with an unchanged squad, with the same group that won the ODI World Cup in New Zealand in April heading to Birmingham to chase Commonwealth Games gold this winter. Follow Commonwealth Games 2022 Updates with InsideSport.IN

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Commonwealth Games 2022: World Champion Australia announce FULL-FLEDGE World Cup squad for CWG 2022, ‘Targeting GOLD Medal’

Shelley Nitschke will take the reins as interim head coach for the tour that also includes a tri-series against Ireland and Pakistan after Matthew Mott’s departure to take up a position coaching England’s men’s white-ball squads.

While there is change in the coaching ranks, the selection of an unchanged squad from the group that dominated the 50-over World Cup in New Zealand means Australia will be red-hot favourites to claim gold in Birmingham.

With Georgia Wareham (ruptured left ACL), Sophie Molineux and Tayla Vlaeminck (both with right foot stress fractures) still on the comeback trail from their respective injuries, selectors had a simple job.

Commonwealth Games 2022: World Champion Australia announce FULL-FLEDGE World Cup squad for CWG 2022, ‘Targeting GOLD Medal’

Heather Graham and Georgia Redmayne had both gone to New Zealand as travelling reserves for the World Cup but will not travel with the squad to the UK.

Ellyse Perry is again expected to play as a batter only, like she did in the World Cup final, as she continues to recover from a lower back stress fracture.

Australia’s Commonwealth Games squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington

“Her availability to bowl will be dependent on her progress in the coming weeks and on the medical advice,” team physiotherapist Kate Beerworth said.

Commonwealth Games 2022: World Champion Australia announce FULL-FLEDGE World Cup squad for CWG 2022, ‘Targeting GOLD Medal’

“Georgia had an ACL reconstruction in February and is progressing well in the early stages of her rehab. She’s working towards a return to play in early 2023.

“Tayla is also progressing well in her rehab after sustaining a navicular stress fracture prior to the Ashes in January. She’s been working with The Australian Ballet over the past few months and will continue to progress her rehab using a collaborative approach with Cricket Victoria, Cricket Australia and Australian Ballet staff.

“Tayla’s injury is long-term and she remains unavailable for the tri-series, Commonwealth Games and the WBBL, with no date set for her return at this stage.”

Australia’s squad will assemble for the first time since Mott’s exit at a pair of training camps at the National Cricket Centre in June before they head to Northern Ireland for a tri-series against Ireland and Pakistan.

Commonwealth Games 2022: World Champion Australia announce FULL-FLEDGE World Cup squad for CWG 2022, ‘Targeting GOLD Medal’

That will see them play four games in a week before heading to Birmingham, where Meg Lanning will lead Australia’s hunt for a first Commonwealth Games medal, with women’s T20 making its debut at this year’s games in an eight-team competition.

Cricket has featured just once before at the Commonwealth Games, with a men’s 50-over tournament played as part of the Kuala Lumpur Games in 1998, where a side captained by Steve Waugh won silver for Australia.

“To be there with athletes from badminton, squash, lawn bowls and a host of other sports is going to be a wonderful new experience for our players to embrace,” Lanning said.

“We’ve all grown up watching the Commonwealth Games on TV, seeing Australian athletes inspire the rest of the country, and we’re hoping to do the same.”