Jess Duffin declines Australia A offer to play footy

It is Australian Footy over cricket for Jess Duffin as she declined to play for Australia A against India A next month, thereby letting an opportunity to push for a return to international cricket go.

Duffin, who has played 50 ODIs and 64 T20Is
for Australia, is back into the reckoning due to her returns for Melbourne
Renegades in the Women’s Big Bash League. She has scored 371 runs at an average
of over 61 and a strike rate of over 144, being the second-highest for the
red-clad unit.

The series against India A comprises three one-dayers and three T20s, for which Duffin told Cricket Australia that she wasn’t available.

“Jess has performed well for the Renegades
for this season which is really pleasing, however she advised us that she was
unavailable for selection for the upcoming ‘A’ series against India,” said
Shawn Flegler, the national selector to The Age.

“The squad for the upcoming tri-series and
T20 World Cup will be selected in January and, if available, Jess will be
considered alongside a number of other players.”

Duffin was drafted to play for Collingwood in the AFLW in 2015 before moving to the Kangaroos where she was an All-Australian defender this year. She said she was aware of the T20 World Cup clashing with the AFLW season, while commenting last week that she was open to returning to international cricket.

"I don’t think you can ever say no to playing for Australia. It’s just whether or not it comes at the right time, I haven’t had those conversations,” said Duffin. "It’s an honour to play for your country so with a World Cup around the corner, you never know. I’ve said hello to a couple to times to make sure they remember me."

The Renegades, of whom Duffin is the captain, are currently fifth on the table, with two matches to go before the finals weekend. Duffin last played for Australia in August 2015.