CWG 2022 | Australia announce squad for Commonwealth Games

Australia have announced an unchanged Women's squad for the Commonwealth Games, which won the ODI World Cup in April. 

The 15-member squad that took Australia to their 7th World Cup title earlier this year will be representing Australia in Bermingham. This time they will be hoping to clinch the Commonwealth Games Gold medal.

Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux and Tayla Vlaeminck will continue to miss out because of their respective injuries. 

Ellyse Perry is again expected to play as a pure batter due to her stress fracture in the lower back. 

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

There has been only one change in the entire setup. Coach Matthew Mott is no longer in charge of the Women from down under. However, following Mott's exit, the selectors have decided to not change much from that World Cup winning squad who enjoyed an unbeaten streak in New Zealand to win their seventh title.

Shelley Nitschke, appointed as an assistant to Motts in 2018, on Wednesday (May 18), was named the interim head coach and will take charge of the Australian Women's team for the upcoming Tri-series in Ireland and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Cricket will feature in the Commonwealth games for the first time since 1998. This Australian squad will be taking part in an eight-team, 20-over tournament at Edgbaston scheduled to start on July 29.

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.

The current world champions, grouped with India, Pakistan and Barbados, will start their quest for Gold against India on July 29.

The Tri-series in Ireland, prior to the Games, can be perfect preparation for the Lanning led-side ahead of the mega event in Bermingham. Steve Waugh led the Australia Men's cricket team to win silver in the 1998 Kuala Lumpur. 

The Meg Lanning side is going into this tournament as hot favourites with an unchanged squad. Speaking about participating in an event like the Commonwealth Games, Meg Lanning said: 

"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. 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."