Victorian all-rounder Tess Flintoff is one step closer towards an Australian debut after being awarded her maiden national contract.
On Thursday morning, Cricket Australia announced the 18 women’s players that had been offered national contracts for the 2025/26 season, headlined by a World Cup campaign in the subcontinent and a multi-format campaign against India at home.
Flintoff, who represents the Melbourne Stars in the Women’s Big Bash League, was the only new addition in the list, while fellow young gun Georgia Voll was offered a contract having earned an upgrade last summer. The injury-plagued duo of Sophie Molineux and Tayla Vlaeminck received contracts, along with fringe players Grace Harris and Heather Graham.
Meanwhile, veteran spinner Jess Jonassen and fellow Queenslander Charli Knott missed out despite stellar performances at domestic level.
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“Tess is an exciting young player who we can see having a long future in the green and gold,” national selector Shawn Flegler said in a statement.
“Having overcome injury we’re looking forward to seeing her fit and firing throughout summer which adds further depth to our pace-bowling stocks.
“Georgia has made a sensational start to her international career, showing her immense talent from the onset and playing a pivotal role for the team in the absence of Alyssa Healy at the top of the order.
“Her ability to adapt to the various formats has been impressive and will come into play with an ODI World Cup later this year and a multi-format series against India in the new year.
“While Jess Jonassen has not been included on this year’s list, we’re always keeping an eye on players outside of the squad and she is no exception.”
During the 2024/25 WNCL, Flintoff contributed 330 runs at 33.00, including two fifties, along with eight wickets at 59.25. However, the 22-year-old endured a tough campaign during last summer’s WBBL, accumulating 59 runs and three wickets across nine matches.
In 2022, Flintoff cracked the fastest half-century in WBBL history, a 16-ball fifty against the Adelaide Strikers at North Sydney Oval.
“It’s probably future-proofing the squad a little bit … it’s looking at the squad and seeing what we need in the future,” Flegler said of Flintoff’s selection during a press conference.
“Certainly looking at her performances, you’d go, ‘Why (was she selected)?’ She hasn’t really banged down the door with wickets or anything.
“But there’s something about her that’s a little bit different. If you just go by numbers alone, that’s not really selection. It’s trying to find a little bit extra that you see in a player and we think Tess has that.”
Asked about Knott, who enjoyed a breakout summer with the bat, Flegler responded: “She’s certainly in discussions.
“Charli could probably feel a little bit unlucky not to be in the squad of 18, but like everyone, if there’s an opportunity there for her to play, then she can still play from outside the squad, that’s for sure.”
Cricket Australia contracted women’s players for 2025/26
Darcie Brown
Tess Flintoff
Ashleigh Gardner
Kim Garth
Heather Graham
Grace Harris
Alyssa Healy
Alana King
Phoebe Litchfield
Tahlia McGrath
Sophie Molineux
Beth Mooney
Ellyse Perry
Megan Schutt
Annabel Sutherland
Tayla Vlaeminck
Georgia Voll
Georgia Wareham
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