Congratulations are in order for Box Hill's Meg Lanning and Em Preston after the Women’s National Selection Panel (WNSP) today announced the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars (Australia Under-21) squad to play the NZ Emerging Players in a series of Twenty20 and 50-over matches in Sydney in December.

Meg resumed play with the VicSpirit this weekend after completing her year 12 exams and has been rewarded for solid performances over a period of time with what we hope will be the first of many Australian selections for the 17 year old. Em, who hails from the ACT, but played several matches for Box Hill last season and is scheduled to do so again post Christmas this season is in the Shooting Stars squad for the second time after being selected last season. Meg and Em will be following in the footsteps of current Box Hill and Victorian Captain Rachael Haynes    , who also debuted for Australia at the Under 21 level in 2008 and has since gone on to represent Australia at the senior level. 

Commenting on the squad, WNSP Chair Christina Matthews said:

“The matches against New Zealand will provide these young players with further opportunities to impress selectors as we prepare for the ICC World Twenty20 campaign in the West Indies in April.”

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It will be a huge month of cricket for Meg with the Cricket Australia Women's Cup from 25th November to 1st December followed by VicSpirit WNCL matches against NSW from 11th - 13th December and the Shooting Stars series vs New Zealand from 15th - 22nd Dec. Em is scheduled to play for ACT vs WA from 11th-13th December. 

Match schedule below (all matches at Blacktown Olympic Park, NSW)

Tue 15 Dec Tour Match - NSW XI vs NZ EP (T20): 4pm – 6.45pm
Wed 16 Dec Twenty20: 2.15pm – 5pm
Thu 17 Dec Twenty20: 2.15pm – 5pm
Fri 18 Dec Twenty20: 7.15pm – 10pm
Sun 20 Dec 50-over: 10am – 5.05pm
Tue 22 Dec 50-over: 3pm – 10.05pm

We wish Meg and Em all the best for the coming series.