Seven Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad members have been selected to travel to India for a nine day AIS Training Camp in May.

Rachael Haynes, Meg Lanning, Jess Cameron, Annie-Rose Maloney (VIC), Sarah Coyte (NSW), Jessica Jonassen (QLD) and Rene Farrell (WA) will all travel to the Global Cricket School in Poona, just outside of Mumbai for the camp from 17 to 26 May.

Coach Richard McInnes will lead the tour group who will get some valuable experience in sub-continent conditions ahead of three key series in region over the next 18 months.

“This tour will be vital in giving these players some great experience ahead of a bi-lateral series against India in March 2012, the ICC WorldTwenty20 in Sri Lanka in 2012 and the ICC Cricket World Cup in India in early 2013,” McInnes said. 

“This will be the first trip to India for all of these players so the aim is to give them exposure to playing and adapting to Indian conditions as well as to support some of our key on field development areas.

“We have a strong focus on becoming better at playing spin, as women’s cricket in all formats is heavily influenced by slow bowlers. There is no better place to learn how to play spin than India. 

“Complimenting that is learning to bowl in conditions that are not seam and pace friendly, the conditions which suit our attack. While the wickets in India have certainly changed over the past 10 to 20 years, it is still an ideal environment to challenge our players and extend their skills

“In addition to the AIS Training Camp we have a further two full squad camps in May which will also be important in our preparation as we build-up to the Quad Series in England in July,” McInnes said.

Acting AIS Director Phil Borgeaud said he was extremely proud of the AIS program’s role in the development of men and women’s cricket.

“Watching young cricketers develop and reach new heights is very exciting, and to know that the Australian Institute of Sport has played a major part in that development is a tremendous reflection of the program’s success,” Mr Borgeaud said.