Chloe Ainsworth’s Cricket Australia contract an investment in rising star’s ‘big future’, says chief selector

Rising WA star Chloe Ainsworth has been handed her first Cricket Australia contract, with chief selector Shawn Flegler saying the move was an investment in a player with a “big future”. Ainsworth and 19-year-old left-armer Lucy Hamilton — who made an impressive Test debut against India at the WACA Ground last month — are the two new additions to an 18-player list unveiled by the governing body on Wednesday. The 20-year-old has shown huge potential in the early stages of her fledgling career with WA and Perth Scorchers, being named as CA’s Betty Wilson Young Cricketer of the Year in 2025. Flegler said the seam-bowling all-rounder had long been highly regarded within the national set-up. “She’ll come up to our camps in May and start that process of just being around the group,” Flegler said. “We’ve had her on the periphery of a few tours, where she’s come and bowled to us and that’s been great. “We think highly of her. She’s done well, particularly in the WBBL. We see a big future for her. “We want players who are multi-skilled and she certainly fits the bill there.” Ainsworth is not playing in the ongoing ‘Green vs Gold’ match, which figures as the only chance for for women’s domestic cricketers to play a multi-day fixture. Having already battled stress injuries throughout the early stages of her career, Flegler confirmed she was currently sidelined by a “slight foot issue” and said her build-up back to bowling would be cautious. “There’s an (Australia) A series at the back end of this year in September, October going to India, so we’re aiming for that series for her,” he said. “There’s a lot of cricket coming up. We think it’s really important she continues to work on her body and getting that right for international cricket. It’s very different to playing domestic cricket, playing a couple of games and then having a break for a couple of weeks . . . as opposed to being on tour for six and seven weeks and having to back up and play and train that whole time. “We don’t think she’s quite there yet, but this is an investment in her into the future.” Ainsworth’s WA teammates Beth Mooney, Alana King and Heather Graham have retained their national deals.