ACT Meteor Maitlan Brown is vying for the chance to make her Test debut when Australia take on England in a multi-format Ashes series.
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The 21-year-old quick has been named in Leah Poulton's Australian A squad that will travel alongside the national team to England in July.
The 13-strong squad will play limited over matches against the England Women's Academy, while also taking on the national side in a three-day red-ball warm-up ahead of the Ashes Test.
Brown is determined to prove her worth in front of the national selectors and push for higher honours while on tour.
"Being selected in the Australian A squad is unreal and to be able to represent my country at any level is a privilege," Brown said.
"Hopefully I can take a few poles and even show the Australian selectors that I can take it to the next level.
"There are definitely lots of opportunities to get into the Australian squad and play in the Ashes. Injuries can come into it and if I perform well then there's definitely a chance."
Brown also hopes to use the Ashes tour as a springboard to be selected for next year's Twenty20 World Cup.
"It'll be fantastic preparation for the World Cup, being able to play against first class teams," Brown said.
"Everyone will be really determined to prove that they can play for Australia and try to push for the further honours."
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Australian selector Shawn Flegler said the squad consists of those next in line for national honours.
"This tour is a terrific opportunity for these players to test themselves in notoriously tricky English conditions," Flegler said.
"This group represents the next generation of Australian players, so to be able to invest and give them this experience is incredibly valuable."
Brown joins former Meteor all-rounder Erin Burns on tour but is the only current player from the ACT. The right-handed quick said she feels honoured to be the sole representative in the green-and-gold outfit.
"It feels pretty special to represent the ACT in the Australian squad," Brown said.
"It would have been nice to have a few more ACT girls but I feel really honoured to be the only one.
"We have limited resources but it shows you can still get the job done and get the higher honours."
The Australian squad will assemble in Brisbane from June 13 for a pre-tour camp and play two warm-up matches against the National Performance Squad before departing for England on June 21.
Australia A squad for England tour: Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Josie Dooley, Heather Graham, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Georgia Redmayne, Molly Strano, Annabel Sutherland, Rachel Trenaman, Belinda Vakarewa, Amanda-Jade Wellington
Australia A schedule
Warm-up match
June 29: England v Australia A, Loughborough
One-day matches
July 3: England Women's Academy v Australia, Loughborough
July 5: England Women's Academy v Australia, Loughborough
July 8: England Women's Academy v Australia, Loughborough
Three-day tour match
July 12-14: England v Australia A, Millfield School, Street
Twenty20 matches
July 17: England Women's Academy v Australia, Millfield School, Street
July 19: England Women's Academy v Australia, Millfield School, Street
Lucie Bertoldo
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
