Teen sensation picks up Australia contract, three-time T20WC winner retires

Brown's selection in the 15-player group, in place of Delissa Kimmince, is the lone change to last year's women's national contract list from CA.

Kimmince has elected to retire from the game, bringing a 12-year international career to a close. The fast-bowling all-rounder played 60 matches for Australia, winning three T20 World Cups along the way.

"DK (Kimmince) should be incredibly proud of her contribution to Australian cricket. She made her international debut at the very young age of 18, took a break from the game and returned to make a huge contribution at all levels," Shawn Flegler, CA Female High Performance Manager and National Selector, said.

"During that time she developed from a raw fast bowler into a genuine all-rounder and has been regarded as one of the best fielders in the world. She’s been a wonderful teammate and an important member of our Ashes and T20 World Cup winning squads and we thank her for her outstanding service to the game."

Brown's elevation comes with Australia entering a huge 12 months of cricket that will see it take on England in a home Ashes series and chase ICC Cricket World Cup 2022 glory in New Zealand.

"We’re proud of the playing group for the resilience and hard work they displayed over a challenging season, which for many included multiple quarantines and hubs, as we now look ahead to a huge year of cricket," Flegler said.

“Since our loss to India in the semi-final of the 2017 World Cup, we’ve been focussed on winning the trophy back. The World Cup in New Zealand is therefore a big focus for the playing group, as are the home series against our great rivals England and India."

Brown made her ODI and T20I debuts for Australia on the recent tour of New Zealand after impressing selectors on the domestic circuit.

"Darcie is an incredibly exciting fast-bowling talent, as we saw on the recent T20I and ODI tour of New Zealand, and she has consistently been the fastest bowler in the country as shown by our testing around the states. She’s had tremendous raw pace throughout the junior ranks and we think she has the potential to form an excellent new ball partnership with Tayla Vlaeminck for many years to come."

Australia will host India and England this summer before heading to New Zealand for the ICC World Cup in March, 2022.

Contract list: Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham