Duo to play for ICC 11

CITY Pharmacy Papua New Guinea Lewas duo Ravini Oa and Kaia Aura are among 13 promising cricketers in the first ICC Women’s Global development squad.
Bowler Oa and middle order batsman Arua are part the team that has been created by the ICC to support and develop the strength of women cricketers in associate nations.
The initiative, a partnership between the ICC and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), aims at providing exposure to teams outside the top-eight ranked sides who feature in the ICC Women’s Championship and make World Twenty20Is more competitive in the coming years.
The ICC squad play five matches against English Super League sides today and Thursday and Friday.
Arua, 28, had a chance to represent her country back when she was a student in grade eight.
Her mother refused to let her go play at that time, but the opportunities kept coming.
The all-rounder is a veteran of the Lewas, chipping in with the bat in the middle order as well as with her left-arm spin.
She was also the stand-in captain for the ICC T20 World Cup qualifier semifinal against Ireland, showing maturity and aggression in that role that kept PNG in the game against the eventual finalists.
Oa, a 23-year-old medium pacer wants to be a role model for her young daughter.
She’s been a consistent performer for the team, especially in pressure situations. Oa is the go to bowler at the death for the Lewas and a senior member of the team, despite her age. Her performances earned her the chance to be a rookie at Women’s Big Bash League, getting to work on her variations with the legendary Katherine Brunt at the Perth Scorchers, and the England experience will be the next step. Fixtures: Tues, July 17 – ICC squad v Surrey Stars (1030), ICC squad v Surrey Stars (1430); Thurs, July 19 – ICC squad v Loughborough Lightning (1030), CC squad v Loughborough Lightning (1430); Fri, July 20 – ICC squad v Western Storm (1430).