Wareham eyes Aussie women’s ODI debut

Teenage legspinner Georgia Wareham is edging closer to an Australian one-day international debut against Pakistan in the first match of the 50-over series in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

Wareham bagged her first five-wicket haul in senior Australian colours with 5-19 against a Malaysian Cricket Club under-17 boys side in the team’s warm-up match win on Tuesday.

Coach Matthew Mott was yet to make a decision on Australia’s final XI for the series-opener on Wednesday afternoon, but 19-year-old Wareham is likely in the box seat for a debut after impressing in the Twenty20 series victory over New Zealand.

“She’s very level-headed, got a good temperament and doesn’t get flustered,” Australia’s captain Meg Lanning said.

“That suits short form cricket because you’re going to get batters who come after you.

“She settled in really nicely in the New Zealand series and again here so we’re looking forward to seeing how she goes.”

Victorian Wareham is also expected to play a role in No.1 ranked Australia’s World T20 assault in the Caribbean next month, after they dropped the title to the West Indies in 2016.

The Australians play Pakistan in a three-match one-day series in Kuala Lumpur over the next week, before the two sides face off in three T20s.

Lanning’s Australians will return to the top of the women’s one-day championship ladder ahead of New Zealand with a series win.

“The ICC women’s championship means every game is important and we need to win every game to keep in touch,” Lanning said.

“It’s going to be challenging in conditions we’re not accustomed to.”

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