Phoebe Litchfield gets Ashes nod as Australia name squads for England tour

Litchfield, who made half-centuries in her first two ODI innings against Pakistan earlier this year, replaces Heather Graham in the only change to the group which won the T20 World Cup in South Africa last month

Teenage batter Phoebe Litchfield has received an Ashes summons, as Australia named their squad for this summer's tour of England on Wednesday (March 29).

Litchfield, who made half-centuries in her first two ODI innings against Pakistan earlier this year, replaces Heather Graham in the only change to the squad which won the T20 World Cup in South Africa last month.

The 19-year-old has been rewarded for "taking her game to the next level", according to selector Shawn Flegler, and features in a familiar group of household names, led by captain Meg Lanning. 

Phoebe Litchfield goes on the attack against Pakistan [Getty Images]

Graham, meanwhile, drops into the Australia A group, which will tour England simultaneously in June and July.

That A squad includes Tayla Vlaeminck, as the seamer steps up her return following an injury lay-off. 

Vlaeminck has not featured for her county since the 2022 Ashes, having suffered a foot problem.

AUSTRALIA SQUAD

Meg Lanning (c), Alyssa Healy (vc), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham

AUSTRALIA A SQUAD

Maitlan Brown, Lauren Cheatle, Maddy Darke, Heather Graham, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Charli Knott, Kate Peterson, Courtney Sippel, Tayla Vlaeminck, Courtney Webb, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Tahlia Wilson

The Ashes is once again a multi-format series, with England and Australia battling for points from a one-off Test match plus three ODIs and three T20Is. 

"We've been fortunate to have a consistent side across all formats over the past couple of years and as a result we have selected a similar group to the squad which won the T20 World Cup in February," CA head of performance Flegler said.

"Phoebe Litchfield has taken her game to the next level in the past 12 months, we view her as a long-term player for Australia and it's pleasing to reward her progress with selection in an Ashes squad."

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