Victoria have named a 14-player squad ahead of its WNCL matches with the top-of-the-table Tasmania next week at the CitiPower Centre.
Batter Olivia Henry and spinner Aanliya Cheeran return to the squad, while skipper Sophie Molineux is not available for selection due to national commitments.
Wicket-keeper/bat Nicole Faltum will captain the side in Molineux’s place.
Victoria will be looking to make it eight wins straight as they take on Tasmania, who have only lost one game across the season.
Cricket Victoria’s Head of Female Cricket, Sharelle McMahon, said that the team were looking forward to the challenge of taking on an in-form Tigers.
“It has been a great start to the year for the girls, who are playing a strong brand of cricket,” she said.
“We had two good wins in South Australia and now come back home and host Tasmania, who have been the form side in the competition this season.
“It is an exciting opportunity for Sophie Molineux, who has worked incredibly hard since returning from an ACL injury and we couldn’t be happier for her hard-work to be rewarded by being in line for a return to international cricket.
“While we’ll miss Sophie, Nicole Faltum has proved herself an exceptional leader and is excited to once again have the opportunity to captain her state.
“We’re also thrilled to welcome back Aanliya Cheeran and Olivia Henry back into the squad following some solid performances in Premier Cricket.”
Squad
Nicole Faltum – C (Dandenong)
Aanliya Cheeran (Geelong)
Sophie Day (Prahran)
Tess Flintoff (Ringwood)
Poppy Gardner (Dandenong)
Ella Hayward (Melbourne)
Olivia Henry (Prahran)
Milly Illingworth (Essendon-Maribrynong Park)
Meg Lanning (Box Hill)
Jasmine Nevins (Plenty Valley)
Rhiann O’Donnell (Melbourne)
Georgia Prestwidge (Melbourne)
Sophie Reid (Carlton)
Tayla Vlaeminck (Plenty Valley)
WNCL
Victoria v Tasmania
Mon 12 & Weds 14 Feb, 10:00AM (AEDT)
CitiPower Centre, St Kilda
