WNCL: English all-rounder Naomi Dattani in line for debut for Western Australia against New South Wales

Western Australia has confirmed English all-rounder Naomi Dattani is in line to make her Women’s National Cricket League debut as part of a fresh side to start the back half of the season. The West Australian reported last week Dattani, who is the captain of county side Middlesex, had been training with the squad and was in the mix to play her first game. She has been picked in a squad that also includes a string of youngsters for a clash with New South Wales at the WACA Ground on Sunday. The all-rounder scored an unbeaten century off just 61 balls in a losing side to be named player-of-the-match in last month’s Premier T20 final against Subiaco-Floreat. She also played a second XI match in November. WA are without international stars Beth Mooney and Alana King for all of January as they play in the women’s Ashes series, while young guns Chloe Ainsworth — who leads their bowling attack — and power-hitter Ines McKeon are at the Under-19 World Cup. Experienced batters Chloe Piparo, Mathilda Carmichael and Bhavi Devchand have all been picked in the 14-player squad alongside reigning Zoe Goss medallist Amy Edgar. Leg-spinner Lilly Mills and Taneale Peschel will be critical to the bowling line-up without King, Ainsworth and the injured Piepa Cleary. Becky Grundy’s side lost the first four matches of their season before the Women’s Big Bash League break and are all but out of contention. Georgia Adams will captain New South Wales in the matches on Sunday and Tuesday, with their side set to also feature gun bowlers Maitlan Brown, Lauren Cheatle and veteran Sarah Coyte. Sunday’s match will be their first under interim coach Grant Lambert, who takes over from Gavan Twining, who has joined the national team as an assistant coach.