Women’s Australia squad announced for tour of India: Lauren Cheatle makes comeback

Lauren Cheatle hasn’t played for the Australian women’s team for nearly five years. Four shoulder reconstructions and a cancer scare later, she’s back. SEE THE FULL SQUAD HERE.

Lauren Cheatle has made an inspirational return to the Australian women’s team for the tour of India, nearly five years after her last cricket international and two years after a serious cancer scare.

The NSW and Sydney Sixers pacer had a skin cancer urgently removed from her leg in 2021, which could have spread to her lymph nodes had she not sought immediate treatment after noticing a freckle had become darker and painful to touch.

Cheatle debuted for Australia aged 17 but hasn’t pulled on national colours since March 2019, in which time she’s endured a horror stretch which also included four shoulder reconstructions in five years.

Australia has announced a 16-player squad for the all-format tour of India in December and January which represents the first challenge in the post-Meg Lanning era.

Lauren Cheatle in Aussie colours back in February of 2019. Picture: Getty Images

Selectors have not yet confirmed a new captain, and although that person would be Alyssa Healy, the wicketkeeping superstar is still not a guaranteed starter for the historic Test match in Mumbai starting December 21 as she continues to recover from a nasty dog bite to her finger.

Beth Mooney is the likely standby option to take the gloves if Healy doesn’t heal in time, but who would skipper the side would be a more interesting question.

Cheatle, 25, said just a few days before her recall that she feared the emergence of young domestic stars might cruel her dream of climbing Everest to play for Australia again.

“I wouldn’t lie, I think it’s on the back of everyone’s mind. Everyone wants to play international cricket,” Cheatle said, who has been picked in the squad as a Test specialist.

“But Australian cricket is so strong at the moment, it always has been but especially now with the talent coming through and it’s only getting stronger.

“We’ve got so many kids in this competition who are under 18 and absolutely killing it with pace in the wicket. It’s such an exciting time for Australian cricket. If it happens it happens, but it’s not really at the forefront of my mind.”

Now it’s happened.

Cheatle opened up two years ago about how lucky she was with her early skin cancer diagnosis.

“It was a shock, it’s a call you never expect to happen, but definitely not at 22,” Cheatle told cricket.com.au.

Cheatle playing in this year’s WBBL for the Sixers. Picture: Getty Images

“We were so lucky we caught it when we did, because if we had waited another couple of weeks, the outcome probably could have been very different.

“(Waiting for the results about whether it had spread) was the longest seven-day wait I’ve ever had to get that call back.

“If it gets into your lymph nodes, that’s when it starts spreading through your body.

“I can’t stress enough how lucky we were to catch it when we did.”

CA’s head of team performance Shawn Flegler praised Cheatle’s resilience as a cricketer in overcoming such adversity.

“Lauren Cheatle has overcome significant injury setbacks and thoroughly deserves her place in the squad through her performances over the past six months,” Flegler said.

“Lauren has playing experience in India and provides another fast-bowling option, particularly in regard to the Test match which is the format she has been selected for.

“At this stage, we’re planning for Lauren to return to Australia ahead of the white ball formats to play WNCL.”

As well as Healy, Australia also have an injury concern over fast bowler Darcie Brown, who has a hamstring issue that’s kept her out of the WBBL.

“Darcie Brown missed the last two ODIs against the West Indies with a hamstring injury but is back bowling and is on track to be available for Test selection,” Flegler said.

“Alyssa Healy’s finger is healing but remains in a splint and our medical team are continuing to monitor her recovery closely. We’re obviously very hopeful she will be available for the Test, but those decisions are still a while away.

“We have commenced the process to confirm an ongoing Captain appointment, which will be confirmed closer to the tour.”

Originally published as Women’s Australia squad announced for tour of India: Lauren Cheatle makes comeback