In addition to representing Australia, Briony Polkinghorne, Laura Shaw and Nicole Martin will be flying the Ballarat flag high as they strive to help the green and gold win back-to-back world titles.

For the experienced Polkinghorne, it will be her fourth time representing the nation but just her second world cup campaign, having been crucial in Australia’s world cup victory in 2011.

In that campaign, she was named in the world all-star squad, virtually meaning she was in the top eight female cricketers in the world.

She is one of six players returning from the success in the last tournament three years ago and she knows other teams will be gunning to bring the Aussies down.

Polkinghorne plays outdoor cricket with Shaw and Martin for Melton in the Victorian Cricket Association women’s premiers seconds competition.

Shaw, who moved to Ballarat two years ago to study sports management at Federation University, has played in junior Australian teams and toured Sri Lanka last year, but has never played in an open world cup.

Martin coaches the Central Highlands girls under-18 team and is also playing in her first world cup.

The women will compete against New Zealand, England, South Africa and Wales, with the men’s tournament to be run simultaneously.