Twins set to take the field for Australia

The Australian women's team due to tour India for seven one-day internationals is all set to feature two identical twins. The selection panel announced a 13-person squad including Kate and Alex Blackwell. Alex has played eight ODIs but Kate, if selected to play in a match, will be making her debut. If this does happen, this will be the first pair of twins representing Australia in women's cricket. Shelly Nitschke, the 27-year old left-hand bat, was named in the squad as replacement for Kris Britt, who made herself unavailable for personal reasons.

Australia and India have met 14 times before in women's one-dayers, with India winning just once. The only time India were successful was in 1995.

The Blackwells will inevitably draw comparisons to the Waugh twins. But, they insist they aren't the female equivalent of the more famous cricket twins. "I guess we are progressing along similar to the way Mark and Steve were early in their careers and we appreciate the comparison," Kate told the Australian Associated Press. "We look up to them a lot but female cricketers should be recognised for themselves, not as the equivalent of Mark Waugh or Steve Waugh or Matthew Hayden or anybody."

While Alex has played two Tests and eight one-dayers, this tour is a first for Kate. "We were fighting for the same position and I got used to living up to what she had achieved." she said. "I had seen her go through the steps (to get to international level) and I thought that if she could do it, I could do it. She's a role model for me and we're all really, really excited - it's a big celebration day."

Squad 1 Belinda Clark (captain), 2 Karen Rolton, 3 Alex Blackwell, 4 Kate Blackwell, 5 Leonie Coleman, 6 Shelley Nitschke, 7 Cathryn Fitzpatrick, 8 Julie Hayes, 9 Melanie Jones, 10 Lisa Keightley, 11 Clea Smith, 12 Lisa Sthalekar, 13 Emma Twining