Key Points
Australia retained Ashes with dominant performance in previous matches
Healy and Gardner's fitness uncertain for upcoming Test
Melbourne Cricket Ground set to host one-off Test match
Strong 13-member squad named despite injury concerns
Before the Test leg, Australia successfully retained the Ashes with flying colours, courtesy of their four successive wins in the series, three ODIs and one T20I.
As the Women's Ashes is on the cusp of moving to the Test action, the top-ranked team across all formats, will need to rely on its depth in the red-ball format.
Captain Alyssa Healy missed out on the ongoing second T20I against England on Thursday with a foot injury. Cricket Australia said in a statement that "her availability for the Test match will be determined in due course."
National selector Shawn Flegler revealed the nature of the Australian skipper's injury.
"Alyssa has got a stress response in her foot," Flegler told reporters, according to ICC.
"We're going to try and get a little bit more information before we make a call on her. It's a big call for Alyssa," Fleger added.
Along with Healy, there are also concerns over the fitness of star all-rounder Ash Gardner. She was also a notable absentee in Australia's playing XI for the second T20I.
According to Cricket Australia, there is no time frame for Gardner's return. "Ash Gardner will continue to be assessed daily, and her availability for the 3rd T20I remains uncertain," it said in a release.
Even though there is uncertainty over their involvement, Garnder and Healy have been added to the squad. The one-off Test will begin on January 30 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Australia Test Squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Tahlia McGrath, Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.
