Hamilton Heads Up Boom Crop

Hamilton, 18, claimed the competition's equal-second-best figures ever when she took 5-8 against Melbourne Stars in a break-out individual performance in the Weber Women's Big Bash League and went on to claim 12 wickets in seven games, including a League-leading economy rate of 5.00.

Bassingthwaighte, 18, was a squad member throughout the WBBL after impressing in the T20 Spring Challenge were the Heat finished as runners-up.

Their selection in a strong Australian squad was complemented by some solid efforts from the Queensland under-19 squad that lost the National championships Final to NSW Metro earlier this week in Perth.

Bassingthwaighte played in that competition, where Brisbane Heat squad player Lucy Bourke was also impressive in a welcome sign of the home-grown depth and talent in the Heat squad going forward. 

Queensland's Ruby Orchard was the leading wicket-taker of the Under-19 tournament with a tally of 17 scalps. The off-spinner took three key wickets in the semi-final to help her side bundle out NSW Country for 79 and advance to the final. 

Orchard was among three players from the runners-up to be named on the Team of the Tournament along with top-order batter Lucy Bourke (309 runs at 44.1) and Toowoomba off-spinner Lilli Hamilton (14 wickets), who also played for the Heat in the T20 Spring Challenge.

The ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup will be held in Malaysia across January and February, with Australia placed in Group D alongside Bangladesh, Scotland and Nepal. 

All of Australia’s group games will be played at UKM YSD Oval on the southern outskirts of Kuala Lumpur starting from January 18, with the Super Six stage and finals to follow.  

Cricket Australia’s National Development Lead Kristen Beams will coach the Australia Under 19 squad. A captain will be announced ahead of the World Cup. 

Australia Under 19 T20 World Cup Squad 

Chloe Ainsworth (WA/Melville District CC) 

Lilly Bassingthwaighte (QLD/Western Suburbs District CC) 

Caoimhe Bray (NSW/Greater Hunter Coast Premier CC) 

Ella Briscoe (NSW/St George-Sutherland Women's CC) 

Maggie Clark (SA/West Torrens District CC) 

Hasrat Gill (VIC/Melbourne CC) 

Lucy Hamilton (QLD/Sunshine Coast CC) 

Amy Hunter (ACT/Eastlake CC) 

Sara Kennedy (VIC/Carlton CC) 

Eleanor Larosa (SA/Glenelg District CC) 

Grace Lyons (ACT/Western Creek Molongo CC) 

Ines McKeon (WA/Midland Guildford CC) 

Juliette Morton (NSW/St George-Sutherland Women's CC) 

Kate Pelle (NSW/Parramatta Women's Grade CC) 

Tegan Williamson (WA/Wanneroo District CC)