WBBL winner Alana King earns Ashes call-up as Australia name squad

King beat Amanda-Jade Wellington to a call-up after a long-term injury to Georgia Wareham left Australia short of a leg-spinner

Alana King has beaten Amanda-Jade Wellington to a place in Australia's Ashes squad, which also includes the anticipated returns of Rachael Haynes, Megan Schutt and Jess Jonassen.

The experienced trio slot back into Meg Lanning's 15-strong party after missing the series against India which began the international summer.

Less certain was the selection of King, who played a vital part in Perth Scorchers' Women's Big Bash triumph, over Wellington, who has had a fine year, topping the wicket-taking charts in the WBBL and enjoying a successful stint in The Hundred.

The pair were battling for a spot after a season-ending ACL injury to Georgia Wareham left Australia a leg-spinner down.

Sophie Molineux is also absent, having suffered a stress fracture of her foot, though national selector Shawn Flegler added that there was still hope she would be fit enough to take part in the World Cup, which begins at the start of March in New Zealand.

"The loss of Georgia Wareham to injury has presented Alana King with a great opportunity to show what she can do at this level and having improved in all facets of her game over the last few seasons, she's well placed to play an important role in the series," said Flegler.

The #Ashes It just means more.

Congratulations to the 15 players selected to resume our 87-year rivalry with England! pic.twitter.com/95QFphwR2n

— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) January 11, 2022

Young seamers Darcie Brown, Annabel Sutherland, Hannah Darlington and Tayla Vlaeminck have all been included.

Meanwhile, the makeup of the Australia A side, which will face England's second string concurrently, features a similar range of promising youngsters and experienced senior players to that of their opponents.

Georgia Redmayne, who was part of Australia's squad for the series against India, will captain the team, which also features Erin Burns and Katie Mack, both of whom represented Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred.

Wellington is one of seven internationally capped players in the A team – along with Burns, Grace Harris, Elyse Villani, Molly Strano, Stella Campbell and Heather Graham – although it seems unlikely that any of them will be shifted into the main squad unless necessary, given the bio-secure conditions expected as part of efforts to keep the two main squads free from Covid ahead of departure for the World Cup.

It also features highly rated teenagers Georgia Voll and Phoebe Litchfield.

"The A side was selected with an eye on the future as well as ensuring we have a number of players who can come straight into the Australian side and a play a role if required," Flegler said.

^{Amanda-Jade Wellington is in the Australia A squad, with Alana King replacing Georgia Wareham (Mark Brake/Getty Images)}

The series begins on January 20, with the first of three T20Is, before the one-off Test at the Manuka Oval in Canberra, followed by the ODI leg of the multiformat contest.

England have not won the series since 2013/14, when Charlotte Edwards was captain.

Australia squad: Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Meg Lanning (c), Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck

Australia A squad: Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Phoebe Litchfield, Katie Mack, Georgia Redmayne (c), Courtney Sippel, Molly Strano, Elyse Villani, Georgia Voll, Amanda-Jade Wellington