Ahmad Khawaja
Australia have named their four touring teams for the Trans-Tasman International Indoor Cricket series against New Zealand in Palmerston North next month. The teams were named in July following the completion of the National Indoor Cricket Championships in Victoria.
The series is the first bilateral competition between the two nations since the last Trans-Tasman event in 2016 in Port Macquarie, New South Wales. Both teams last competed against each other at the previous World Cup in the UAE back in 2017.
Australia last competed in September 2018 when they sent over four teams to play in the Australasia Cup in Sri Lanka. The Open Men’s team competed in a multi-team tournament against the hosts, India, and Singapore, whilst the Open Women, Under-22 Girls and Under-22 Boys sides completed a series of matches against Sri Lanka. Australia went through each grade unbeaten during the tournament.
(1). AUSTRALIA OPEN MEN
| No | Name | State |
| 1 | Lyle Teske (c) | Queensland |
| 2 | Justin Perkins | Victoria |
| 3 | Rob Fitzgerald | Queensland |
| 4 | Rhys Dearness | Queensland |
| 5 | Josh Dreaver (Debut) | Queensland |
| 6 | Kieran Perkins | Victoria |
| 7 | Jamie Diener (Debut) | South Australia |
| 8 | Mark Rice | Western Australia |
| 9 | Matthew Floros | ACT |
| 10 | Ryan Dowse | Queensland |
| 11 | Luke Ryan | ACT |
| 12 | Jarrod Armitage (Debut) | Victoria |
| Coach | Brenton Brien | |
| Manager | Tony Panecasio |
Another very experienced Open Men’s team will travel to New Zealand for this series. Coach Brenton Brien has selected seven players from last year’s Sri Lanka tour including Lyle Teske, Rhys Dearness, Rob Fitzgerald, Justin Perkins, Kieran Perkins, Ryan Dowse and Matthew Floros.
Mark Rice returns to the side for the first time since playing in the previous Trans-Tasman series in 2016 whilst Luke Ryan made a successful return from injury to take part in the National Championships this year and justify his selection.
That mix of experience has also seen the door open for three players to make their debut on tour with Jamie Diener, Josh Dreaver and Jarrod Armitage all in line to play their first matches for Australia.
(2). AUSTRALIA OPEN WOMEN
| No | Name | State |
| 1 | Jude Coleman | Queensland |
| 2 | Briony Polkinghorne | Victoria |
| 3 | Nicole Martin | Victoria |
| 4 | Elizabeth Hall | South Australia |
| 5 | Elly Donald | Victoria |
| 6 | Dulane Carlson | Queensland |
| 7 | Neisha Iles | South Australia |
| 8 | Kylie Rattray | South Australia |
| 9 | Samantha Dixon | Queensland |
| 10 | Allison Nagel | Queensland |
| 11 | Adelaide Campion | Victoria |
| 12 | Rachel Baines | Western Australia |
| Coach | Wendy Kemp | |
| Manager | Maleah Harris |
Coach Wendy Kemp has kept the majority of the touring squad from Sri Lanka last year, maintaining a relatively settled combination and persisting with some impressive performers who debuted last year. The only changes see Allison Nagel come into the side alongside the vastly experienced Jude Coleman, who was available for this series.
(3). AUSTRALIA UNDER-22 BOYS:
| No | Name | State |
| 1 | Joshua Fontana | Western Australia |
| 2 | Hamish Chapman | Queensland |
| 3 | Jay Jhamb | Victoria |
| 4 | Daniel Van Hees | Victoria |
| 5 | Zachary Schwarz | South Australia |
| 6 | Kai Hickey | Western Australia |
| 7 | Dylan Faram | ACT |
| 8 | Cameron Bullard | South Australia |
| 9 | Tyler Hays | ACT |
| 10 | Kiale O’Brian | Western Australia |
| 11 | Kurt Prosper | New South Wales |
| 12 | Cameron Todd | Western Australia |
| 13 | Tyler Van Luin | ACT |
| Coach | Rob Boiston | |
| Manager | Sam Bright |
There have been some changes from the previous Under-22 Boys side that played in the Australasia Cup however coach Rob Boiston has retained the the core of the squad.
Joshua Fontana, Hamish Chapman, Zachary Schwarz, Tyler Hays, Tyler Van Luin and Kai Hickey will line up again for the green and gold. On this tour they will be joined by Victoria pairing Jay Jhamb and Daniel Van Hees, Dylan Faram, Cameron Bullard, Kurt Prosper and Cameron Todd.
(4). AUSTRALIA UNDER-22 GIRLS:
| No | Name | State |
| 1 | Madeleine Wright | Victoria |
| 2 | Lauren Nicholson | Western Australia |
| 3 | Zoe Griffiths | Victoria |
| 4 | Amy Riddell | New South Wales |
| 5 | Emily Vallance | Queensland |
| 6 | Tarlee Meaney | South Australia |
| 7 | Kirsten Davey | Queensland |
| 8 | Alex Weeks | Queensland |
| 9 | Katrina Dixon | Queensland |
| 10 | Paris Rafferty | Victoria |
| 11 | Sophie Roberts | South Australia |
| 12 | Stacy Rockliff | Queensland |
| Coach | Cindy Kross | |
| Manager | Tommy Holt |
Similar to the Under-22 Boys side, the Under-22 Girls team have gone through a few changes for the tour, with the nucleus of the team retained by coach Cindy Kross.
Madeleine Wright, Zoe Griffiths, Lauren Nicholson, Amy Riddell, Tarlee Meaney and Paris Rafferty return from the Sri Lanka tour. A number of Queensland players have come into the fray including Samantha Dixon, Emily Vallance, Kirsten Davey, Alex Weeks and Stacy Rockliff, alongside Sophie Roberts.
The five-match series takes place at the Palmerston Indoor Sports Arena in Palmerston North from 12-14 September.
