Melbourne: Cricket Australia has released its women’s team’s central contract list for the 2026–27 season. Young fast bowlers Lucy Hamilton and Chloe Ainsworth have been included, bolstering the team’s pace attack.
This list of 18 players features three changes from last year. Tasmanian all-rounder Nicola Carey has returned to the squad following a stellar performance.
19-year-old left-arm fast bowler Lucy Hamilton has received a national contract for the first time. She made her debut in all three formats within just three weeks in March. After captaining Australia in the 2025 Under-19 World Cup, she played in the ODI against India in Hobart, the Test match at the WACA Ground in Perth, and finally the T20 match against the West Indies in St. Vincent.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old Chloe Ainsworth has also been given a contract without making her international debut. Ainsworth, who has been playing for the Perth Scorchers since 2023, has taken 40 wickets in three seasons of the Women’s Big Bash League, averaging 22.30 and maintaining an economy rate of less than seven.
Return of Nicola Carey
32-year-old Nicola Carey returned to the team during this year’s multi-format series against India. She had given up her contract in 2023 to focus on domestic cricket and foreign leagues, which paid off, and she has now successfully secured a place in the national team.
Big names like Ayssa Healy missed from list
Former captain Alyssa Healy is not included in this list, having recently ended her Test career in Perth. Tess Flintoff and fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck are also omitted from the squad.
Flintoff was included last year as a potential replacement, but failed to make the playing XI. Meanwhile, Vlaeminck is recovering from a shoulder injury sustained during the 2024 T20 World Cup and has recently returned to domestic cricket.
Cricket Australia selector Shaun Flegler stated that Flintoff and Vlaeminck are not currently under contract, but are still contenders for future selection.
Australia will now prepare for the T20 World Cup in England, where they will look to improve after consecutive semi-final defeats in recent ICC tournaments.
A maximum of 18 players can be contracted under the MoU, with the remaining players eligible to join based on their performance during the season.
Members of Australia cricket Team
Chloe Ainsworth, Darcy Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Lucy Hamilton, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineau, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham