Nicole Bolton shows early-season form on return to action
The Australia batter struck back-to-back half-centuries for Western Australia at the start of the WNCL
ESPNcricinfo staff
23-Sep-2019
Nicole Bolton lofts over the off side during her half-century against Queensland • Getty Images
Nicole Bolton made an impressive return to action for Western Australia with back-to-back half-centuries on the opening weekend of the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL).
Bolton, who was part of the Australia squad that retained the Ashes in England in July, opted out of the tour of West Indies to focus on her mental health following a previous break from the game last season.
In the first two matches for Western Australia she struck 77 off 106 balls against Queensland and 63 off 80 balls against Tasmania to help her side begin with a brace of victories. In the Tasmania game she also picked up 2 for 26 from her 10 overs.
Speaking at the end of the West Indies tour, Australia coach Matthew Mott said he had been in contact with Bolton over recent weeks.
"Bolts and I have been in touch via WhatsApp and she's in a really good frame of mind and looking forward to the first round of the WNCL," Mott said. "For her it's just about reentering and getting back into the swing of things and hopefully scoring some runs, but she seems really happy which is great."
Australia will name their T20I and ODI squads on Wednesday for the series against Sri Lanka that starts at the end of month. After a cleansweep in the Caribbean, Mott said that he did not foresee many changes.
Bolton, who isn't considered as a T20I player, featured in the three ODIs on the Ashes tour with scores of 2, 1 and 4 while also playing in the Test.