Former Irish allrounder Kim Garth gets maiden Australian call up for T20I series against India
The group also includes uncapped teen Phoebe Litchfield and allrounder Heather Graham.
Kim Garth, a former Irish allrounder, is set to play international cricket for a second time after being called up for Australia’s maiden T20I tour of India next month.
Garth, 26, relocated to Australia in 2020 after signing a deal with Cricket Victoria, and earned permanent residency last year, making her eligible for Australia selection after she had completed three years since her last appearance for Ireland, which she did in September. She has represented Ireland in 34 ODIs and 51 T20Is, capturing 65 wickets and scoring 1210 runs.
“[Kim has] been in our thinking, she’s had a couple of strong seasons with the ball and adds extra depth to our pace-bowling stocks,” national selector Shawn Flegler said. “She’s a new-ball option but has a great change of pace as well.”
Uncapped Phoebe Litchfield joins her in the 15-player squad, which will be led by Alyssa Healy in the absence of Meg Lanning. Litchfield, 19, is regarded as one of the country’s greatest batting talents. Heather Graham, an allrounder, has also been called up.
Australia squad
Alyssa Healy (capt & wk), Tahlia McGrath (vice-capt), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland.
Litchfield was Sydney Thunder’s best scorer in their one-win season, scoring 280 runs at 23.33 with a strike rate of 117.64, and has been able to add some power to her great timing.
Graham previously played one ODI in 2019 and was a reserve player during the ODI World Cup earlier this year, where she was briefly called up to the main team after Ashleigh Gardner was unable to play due to illness. She was also called up for the July tri-series in Ireland.
She has scored 237 runs at 29.62 with a strike rate of 122.16 for the Hobart Hurricanes, who will face the Brisbane Heat in the Eliminator on Wednesday, while also taking eight wickets.
