The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) announced today the Australian women's youth squad, the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars to play a series of matches against the New Zealand and New Zealand A women's sides in February 2002.

The squad is:

Lisa Sthalekar (captain)	New South Wales	RHB, OB
Clea Smith (vice-captain)	Victoria	RHB, RM
Sarah Andrews	New South Wales	RHB, RMF
Kelly Applebee	Victoria	RHB, RMF
Alex Blackwell	New South Wales	RHB, RM
Kris Britt	Australian Capital Territory	RHB, LB
Tricia Brown	Queensland	LHB, LM
Melissa Bulow	Queensland	RHB
Leonie Coleman	New South Wales	RHB, WKT
Lauren Ebsary	South Australia	RHB, RM
Belinda Matheson	Queensland	RHB, ROS
Jenny Wallace	New South Wales	RHB
Megan White	Queensland	RHB, RF

Team Management

Rina Hore	New South Wales	Team Manager
Christina Matthews	New South Wales	Coach
Angelle Gray	Western Australia	Assistant Coach

The Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars are scheduled to play four one-day internationals against the New Zealand A women's team beginning in Melbourne on 10 February. The squad will also play a match against the senior New Zealand side before the Kiwis' six-match series against the senior Australian team, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars, in February and March.

The under-23 squad has several players with international experience, including captain Lisa Sthalekar from New South Wales. Sthalekar, a right-hand batter who also bowls off-spin, made her one-day international debut with the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars during the tour of the United Kingdom in July 2001.

Fellow New South Welshman, Leonie Coleman, was also selected in the squad. The wicket-keeper who has been ear-marked as the next in line for the senior Australian keeping role has been a member of the youth squad since 1998.

Queenslanders Tricia Brown and Melissa Bulow, have been strong performers for the Konica Queensland Fire in the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) this season. They are on the verge of senior Australian selection and will be key players for the Shooting Stars.

Eighteen year-old Kris Britt is making her international debut. The right-hand batter from the Australian Capital Territory has been impressive in this season's WNCL. Playing for the Southern Scorpions, she is sixth on the list of top run-scorers this season with 196 runs. The Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars squad was chosen by a panel consisting of youth selectors Glenys Thatcher (Queensland) and Shane Souter (South Australia) and Chairperson for the senior Australian women's team, Margaret Jennings.

Upon selecting the squad Jennings said: "The Australian under-23 program has been very successful in blooding players for the national senior side.

"This series gives some of our talented young players who have been on the fringe of senior selection the chance to perform against a quality international opponent.

"These girls have an opportunity to push their case for selection in the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad. We will be monitoring performances closely as we aim to create greater depth in our senior line-up," Jennings said.

The Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars will assemble in Melbourne on Wednesday 6 February.

The Fixture

10 Feb	Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars v New Zealand A	Camberwell CC, Melb
11 Feb	Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars v New Zealand A	Camberwell CC, Melb
13 Feb	Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars v New Zealand A	Caulfield CC, Melb
14 Feb	Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars v New Zealand A	Ormond CC, Melb
16 Feb	Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars v New Zealand	Greeves Reserve, Dandenong

© 2002 Australian Cricket Board

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