The squad gathered in Brisbane on June 29 for a training camp ahead of their departure to England but will travel without their skipper Lanning, who has withdrawn from the series to remain at home to manage an undisclosed medical issue.
Nitschke could not shed any light on what Lanning was dealing with but admitted her sudden absence from the tour had rocked the squad as they gathered together for the first time since the Lanning announcement was made on Saturday.
“I’m sure they were a little bit rattled by the news,” Nitschke said. “But I think Meg is in our thoughts. We also know that she wants us to go over there and get the job done.
“We’ve had some time to sort of get our head around it now and having the girls up here this week, it’s really nice to get them together.”
“The fact that she [Healy] captained the team in India last year and did a fantastic job, the girls got around her, played some really good cricket, so I think she should take a lot of confidence out of that and I think she enjoyed it.”
Australia women’s coach Shelley Nitschke
Nitschke believes that Healy and the group would be able to handle Lanning’s absence again.
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“[Healy] had a big couple of days herself, to find out that she’s captaining for an Ashes series,” Nitschke said. “But I think the fact that she captained the team in India last year and did a fantastic job, the girls got around her, played some really good cricket, so I think she should take a lot of confidence out of that and I think she enjoyed it.
“I think we’ve got some really good leaders in the group. We’ve got a lot of experience in the group. I think one thing that we’ve been really good at over the years is just being able to adapt and take some knocks as they come. I’ve got the utmost confidence in our group to head across and hopefully get the job done.”
“It’s a lot on her plate,” Nitschke said. “I think it’s a definite conversation that we’ll be having pretty soon to see how that might look for her in the batting order.”
“Phoebe is so talented and has been on the radar and in that talent ID process for a little while, so she’s certainly got the attributes,” Nitschke said. “I think when we get over there in the English conditions, we’ve been training here with red balls and we had some overcast conditions in the first camp, but it’s just different again over there.
“So I think there’s a little bit to play out before we sort of work out who our best XI is for that Test match to kick off the Ashes. But Phoebs is certainly putting her hand up. We’ve got a two-day game this week and got a three-day game over there so there’s a bit to play out. I think she’s definitely got the attributes as have quite a few players. We’ll see where it lands.”
Alex Malcolm is an Associate Editor at ESPNcricinfo
Source: ESPN Crickinfo