Australia name women's squad for India tour

The uncapped Emma Sampson has received her first call-up to the Australia team for the four-nation one-day tournament starting in India next month. Sampson and Alex Blackwell were the two additions to the squad that beat New Zealand in the Rose Bowl series at Brisbane in October.

Julie Hayes and Michelle Goszko have made way for Sampson and Blackwell in the 14-player outfit to go to India. Blackwell returns after missing the Rose Bowl with a knee injury. Sampson, 21, the medium-pace bowler, earned her first Australia tour with a solid season in the Women's National Cricket League in 2006-07. She took ten wickets in eight games for South Australia at an average of 24.10

Sampson was originally chosen in the Shooting Stars team to take on New Zealand in February but her promotion to the ODI squad has allowed Jessica Cameron, the Victoria legspinner, to take her place for the New Zealand matches. "I was very excited to get the call from the selectors and I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to play for Australia," Sampson said.

India, New Zealand, England and Australia will compete in the four-nation tournament. Each team will play each other country twice in the preliminary rounds before the final in Chennai on March 5.

Squad Melissa Bulow, Leah Poulton, Karen Rolton (capt), Lisa Sthalekar, Alex Blackwell, Kate Blackwell, Jodie Purves (wk), Sarah Edwards, Cathryn Fitzpatrick, Shelley Nitschke, Emma Sampson, Kirsten Pike, Sarah Andrews, Clea Smith.