Queensland duo for Southern Stars

Konica Queensland Fire duo Julia Price and Sally Cooper have won selection in the Australian women's cricket team for the coming series against world champions New Zealand.

Price, the most-capped Australian wicket-keeper, and Cooper, a left-handed middle order bat, are the only Queenslanders in the 12-player squad announced today for the series later this month in Australia and next month in New Zealand.

Both players were members of the undefeated Australian team that won the Ashes on their tour of England and Ireland last year.

The Southern Stars will play three One Day Internationals in Australia - two matches at the Adelaide Oval on February 20 and 21 including a day/night game and one at the MCG on February 23 - and three ODIs in New Zealand next month.

The selectors have retained the option to add a player from the Australian Youth team - the Shooting Stars - once they have finished their series of matches against New Zealand 'A' next week.

Queensland had four players named in the Youth team - pace bowler Megan White, opening bat Melissa Bulow and allrounders Tricia Brown and Belinda Matheson.

New Zealand are the current world champions after defeating Australia last year in the Final of the World Cup.

The Australian team will be captained by Belinda Clark.

Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v New Zealand: Belinda Clark (Captain) (VIC), Karen Rolton (Vice Captain) (SA), Sally Cooper (QLD), Cathryn Fitzpatrick (VIC), Michelle Goszko (NSW), Julie Hayes (NSW), Melanie Jones (VIC), Lisa Keightley (NSW), Therese McGregor (NSW), Julia Price (QLD), Lisa Sthalekar (NSW), Emma Twining (NSW). Coach: Steve Jenkin (NSW).