![Governor-General Sam Mostyn (file photo). [Photographer credit and licence to be confirmed by picture desk.]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjlch4dfjid3d9ywd.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fphotos%2F96425e07135f687c83b1.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
Victorian wicketkeeper Nicole Faltum will captain the Governor-General's XI for a second time when the side plays New Zealand's White Ferns in a T20 match at North Sydney Oval on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
Cricket Australia's National Selection Panel, working with Governor-General Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, confirmed the 13-player squad. The match begins at 7:05pm and will be broadcast on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
Faltum, who plays for Melbourne Renegades and Victoria, previously led the Governor-General's XI in a 50-over fixture against England at the same ground on January 9. Queensland's Charli Knott, who captained the side last year, has been named vice-captain.
Melbourne Renegades' Tayla Vlaeminck and Brisbane Heat's Lucy Hamilton, who both bring international experience, are also in the squad, in a line-up otherwise made up of domestic players.
Four squad members will earn their first Governor-General's XI selection: Filippa SueSee, Hasrat Gill, Caoimhe Bray and Frankie Nicklin. Gill, who plays for Sydney Thunder, is also listed with Melbourne Cricket Club.
Lieutenant Meera Hyderabad, a wicketkeeper-batter and Artillery Officer in the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, has been selected to represent the Australian Defence Force, continuing a long-standing tradition of the fixture.
Shawn Flegler, Cricket Australia's Head of Performance for Women's Cricket and a National Selector, said the match offered a rare chance for emerging players to test themselves against a leading international side.
"It's terrific to again be part of what promises to be a fantastic occasion, with the Governor-General's XI providing an exciting opportunity for some of Australia's emerging talent to step up and take on New Zealand," Flegler said.
"For these players, matches against an international side are an invaluable chance to challenge themselves at a higher level and gain experience in an environment that replicates the demands of international cricket," he said.
Flegler said the squad blended youth with experience. "There's a really exciting mix of youth and experience in the squad, with players who have performed strongly at domestic level getting the opportunity to test themselves against one of the world's leading teams," he said.
He thanked the Governor-General for her continued backing of the fixture. "We're grateful for the Governor-General's support of the fixture and are looking forward to celebrating what should be a memorable day for everyone involved," Flegler said.
Mostyn, in her role as Commander in Chief, welcomed the inclusion of Hyderabad. "As Commander in Chief, it is wonderful to see the choice of Lieutenant Meera Hyderabad to represent the ADF as part of the continuing tradition of this game," she said.
The Governor-General also pointed to the squad's blend of experience and emerging talent. "To have players of international calibre in Lucy Hamilton and Tayla Vlaeminck complement an exciting group of up-and-coming all round stars positions this team for success on the pitch," Mostyn said.
She congratulated the four debutants by name. "I'd also like to congratulate Filippa, Hasrat, Caoimhe and Frankie on their first Governor-General's XI selection. This is a special game and I am excited to see our team take on a world-class New Zealand side," she said.
The full squad is: Chloe Ainsworth (Perth Scorchers/Melville CC), Caoimhe Bray (Sydney Sixers/Great Hunter Coast CC), Nicole Faltum (Melbourne Renegades/Dandenong CC, captain), Lucy Finn (Sydney Thunder/St George Sutherland CC), Hasrat Gill (Sydney Thunder/Melbourne CC), Lucy Hamilton (Brisbane Heat/Sunshine Coast CC), Charli Knott (Brisbane Heat/University of Queensland CC, vice-captain), Anika Learoyd (Sydney Thunder/Northern Districts CC), Frankie Nicklin (Sydney Sixers/Sydney University CC), Filippa SueSee (Western Suburbs District Cricket Club), Rachel Trenaman (Hobart Hurricanes/Clarence District CC), Tayla Vlaeminck (Melbourne Renegades/Plenty Valley CC) and Lieutenant Meera Hyderabad (Australian Defence Force).
New Zealand, the White Ferns, are described in the release as former ICC Women's T20 World Cup champions and Australia's Trans-Tasman rivals ahead of the October 15 match at North Sydney Oval.