ECB today announced England’s Test, ODI and T20 squads for the Women’s Ashes series in Australia starting early in the New Year.
England, who will be led by Charlotte Edwards in all three formats, will contest one Test Match, three One-Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals against their hosts
The series will again be played as a multi-format contest with England seeking to defend the trophy they won by twelve points to four on home soil earlier this year.
The selectors have named a 15-strong squad for both the Ashes Test Match and the three-match One-Day series. Lancashire bowler Kathryn Cross, who made her international debut during England’s recent tour of the West Indies, is included in the squad for the Test and ODI series with Kent’s Natasha Farrant replacing Cross in an otherwise unchanged squad for the T20 series.
ECB Head of England Women’s cricket Clare Connor said: “We are pleased to welcome three of our most senior players back to the squad for what promises to be a very competitive series against one of the strongest sides in the women’s world game.England will also be bolstered by the return of Katherine Brunt, Heather Knight and Anya Shrubsole after the highly experienced trio all missed the tour of the West Indies through injury.
“Last summer’s series in England was watched by more spectators than ever before and the international women’s game will gain further exposure this winter with all three T20 internationals being played as double headers prior to the men’s T20 fixtures.
“The England Women’s team also continues to gain wider recognition for its achievements and we were delighted to see the squad nominated for the Team of the Year award at last week’s Sunday Times Sky Sports Sportswomen of the Year Awards.
“But there can be no room for complacency on our part and we must continue to perform at a very high level if we are to achieve our twin objectives this winter – retaining the Ashes in Australia and winning the Women’s World T20 tournament in Bangladesh.”
England Women’s Ashes Test and ODI Squads:
Charlotte Edwards (captain) (Kent)
Arran Brindle (Sussex)
Katherine Brunt (Yorkshire)
Kathryn Cross (Lancashire)
Georgia Elwiss (Sussex)
Lydia Greenway (Kent)
Jenny Gunn (Nottinghamshire)
Danielle Hazell (Yorkshire)
Amy Jones (Warwickshire)
Heather Knight (Berkshire)
Natalie Sciver (Surrey)
Anya Shrubsole (Somerset)
Sarah Taylor (Sussex)
Lauren Winfield (Yorkshire)
Danielle Wyatt (Nottinghamshire)
England Women’s Ashes T20 Squad:
Charlotte Edwards (captain) (Kent)
Arran Brindle (Sussex)
Katherine Brunt (Yorkshire)
Georgia Elwiss (Sussex)
Natasha Farrant (Kent)
Lydia Greenway (Kent)
Jenny Gunn (Nottinghamshire)
Danielle Hazell (Yorkshire)
Amy Jones (Warwickshire)
Heather Knight (Berkshire)
Natalie Sciver (Surrey)
Anya Shrubsole (Somerset)
Sarah Taylor (Sussex)
Lauren Winfield (Yorkshire)
Danielle Wyatt (Nottinghamshire)
England Women 2014 Women’s Ashes Series Schedule:
Friday 10 to Monday 13 January - Women’s Ashes Test, WACA, Perth
Sunday 19 January - 1st ODI, MCG, Melbourne
Thursday 23 January - 2nd ODI, MCG Melbourne
Sunday 26 January - 3rd ODI, Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Wednesday 29 January - 1st T20, Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Friday 31 January - 2nd T20, MCG, Melbourne
Sunday 2 February - 3rd T20, Stadium Australia, Sydney