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Campbell makes loudest case for Ashes call

3 minute read

Stella Campbell hopes her record figures of 7-25 for NSW against ACT can help her make a final push to stay in Australia's squad for the women's Ashes.

When it comes to Ashes auditions, Stella Campbell knows she can't do much more than last Thursday.

An incumbent quick from Australia's last Test side, Campbell made history against ACT with 7-25 in NSW's big WNCL win at Manuka Oval.

The figures were the best in Breakers' WNCL history, and the second best of any player in the tournament's history.

And they were well timed too for the 19-year-old.

Selectors will announce their squad for the multi-formatted Ashes series on Wednesday, with the sole Test to be played in Canberra.

Campbell played in Australia's last Test against India in October, but her and fellow quick Darcie Brown face a squeeze with Megan Schutt to return.

Realistically it means only one of the two youngsters are likely to keep their spot for the Test, with a group of other young quicks in the mix for white-ball games.

"The timing was good to put out a performance, you know, before the Ashes," Campbell told AAP.

"Obviously I'd love to be a part of it and in particular the Test.

"Just because we don't get many of those and an Ashes one would be even more special.

"I'm hoping that what I did the other day was enough to hopefully win me a spot in that team."

Campbell was a 15-year-old sitting on the North Sydney hill the last time a women's Ashes Test was played in Australia.

She debuted for Sydney Sixers two years later, and earlier this summer featured in the Test and one-day components of the India series.

Also working in her favour for selection will be the fact she was Australia's best quick behind Ellyse Perry on Test debut, taking 2-47 and claiming the key wicket of Deepti Sharma.

"I've benefited so much from being around that group," Campbell said.

"When you train with the best and play with the best, you're bound to improve.

"Being able to bowl to those players, I was able to learn and able to adapt my own plans.

"I had to be challenged, and when you're challenged that's when you improve."

Selectors are also expected to be closing in on an 18-person squad for the one-day World Cup, which immediately follows the Ashes in New Zealand.

Squeezing in Australia's young quicks and group of allrounders is only part of the challenge for national selectors.

Spinners Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham are both out of the Ashes, with Wareham to also miss the World Cup and Commonwealth Games with an ACL injury.

The world's top-ranked finger spinner in ODIs Jess Jonassen will return, while leggies Amanda-Jade Wellington and Alana King are fighting out for one spot.

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