‘Doesn’t make sense’: Georgia Redmayne omitted from Australian T20 squad for India tour

Queensland’s Georgia Redmayne has been omitted from Australia’s T20 squad despite another stellar season at domestic level.

Nic Savage

@nic_savage1

4 min read

November 22, 2022 - 3:31PM

Healy named Aussie T20 captain in Lanning's absence

Cricket

Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.

Queensland wicketkeeper Georgia Redmayne has been omitted from Australia’s T20 squad for the upcoming tour of India despite another stellar season at domestic level.

On Tuesday morning, Australia unveiled a 15-player squad ahead of next month’s white-ball tour of India as the Commonwealth Games champions begin preparations for the 2023 T20 World Cup in South Africa.

Incumbent captain Meg Lanning was unavailable for selection as she continues her indefinite break from the game, while the Australians will also be without veteran batter Rachael Haynes, who announced her retirement from international cricket in September.

Watch the Weber WBBL. Every game live and ad-break free during play on Fox Cricket, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Sydney Thunder teenager Phoebe Litchfield and Melbourne Stars all-rounder Kim Garth, who previously represented Ireland between 2010 and 2019, earned their maiden call-ups, while Hobart Hurricanes all-rounder Heather Graham was also included.

Redmayne, who served as a travelling reserve during this year’s World Cup campaign in New Zealand, was not picked despite widely being considered the next batter in waiting.

The 28-year-old was named in the WBBL’s Team of the Tournament after top-scoring for the Brisbane Heat with 333 runs at 41.62, including two fifties in 10 matches. She also claimed the most wicketkeeper dismissals in this season’s WBBL with four catches and seven stumpings.

Sydney Sixers all-rounder Erin Burns and Adelaide Strikers leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington were also unlucky to miss out.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning, national selector Shawn Flegler explained that having Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney in the squad made it difficult to validate selecting a third wicketkeeper.

What does Georgia Redmayne need to do to make an Australia squad at this point? Two consecutive seasons in the WBBL team of the tournament. Top wicketkeeper in the WBBL by dismissals. Like actually what does she need to do. #RedmayneForAustralia https://t.co/E2xoibXFA3
— Yosef Mordechai Coleman (@yosecakes) November 21, 2022

“While she’s had a really good WBBL, a number of players have also had good WBBLs,” Flegler said.

“We’ve got two world-class keepers in our squad already, and so it probably doesn’t make sense to have a third keeper in your squad when you’ve got other batters that you can give opportunities to as well.

“Certainly the door’s not closed on Georgia, that message is really clear. She’s still on standby for this tour if something happens to Alyssa or Beth.

“I don’t think we’ve ever ruled anyone out in the future. We saw that with Rach Haynes coming back into the squad a number of years ago on the back of some really strong domestic form as well.

“It’s a chance for Georgia to continue to push her case in domestic cricket here. There’s lots of cricket coming up over the next 12-18 months as well.”

Litchfield, who made her WBBL debut in 2019 as a 16-year-old, was earmarked as a future Australian cricketer from a young age.

The left-hander became a stalwart for the Thunder and the Breakers while juggling school and university commitments, earning a call-up to the Australia A squad earlier this year.

The 19-year-old proved her worth by finishing the three-match series against England A as the highest run-scorer, cracking back-to-back fifties in Canberra.

“Anyone who has watched Phoebe play over the last few years recognises her talent,” Flegler said.

“We do have another tour to India in 12 months, and the fact we haven’t toured for over four years, I just think it’s a great opportunity for a few players to get over in that touring environment to expect conditions that they haven’t been to before.

“If she gets her chance to play, then I’m sure she’ll take it. She looks to have all the attributes of a world-class international player.”

Georgia Redmayne of the Heat. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Litchfield was the Thunder’s highest run-scorer this season, plundering 280 runs at 23.33 with two fifties.

“She’s been looked at for a very long period of time, and I think the opportunity is right for her to go over to the subcontinent,” Healy told reporters at the SCG on Tuesday morning.

“We’ve got a 50-over World Cup over there in a couple of years’ time, so it’s a great opportunity to take some young players over and give them some experience in those conditions.

“She’ll fit in really well and I think she’s going to take to international cricket really quickly, without putting pressure on her.

“She’s going to adjust really well, and with Rachael Haynes retiring, that left-hander spot in the middle is up for grabs and she provides that for us.

“Being around the squad and being around the team, whether you are playing or you‘re not playing, you learn a lot about yourself and how to be a good teammate and help people in those conditions.

“From that point of view it will be great for her to see how the Aussie team operates and how we work.

“But also it will be a great opportunity to go over to those conditions and learn a bit more about your game and how you can do that in those conditions. In the next couple of years we have a lot of tours away, so those opportunities are great for her.”

The first T20 between India and Australia gets underway at Mumbai’s D.Y. Patil Stadium on Saturday, December 10, with the first ball scheduled for 12.30pm AEDT.