NEWS
Follow UsEngland Women have named their squad for the Women’s Ashes multi-format series, which includes three T20Is, three ODIs (each worth two points), and a Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (worth four points).
Rookie pacer Ryana MacDonald-Gay headlined the squad as she was rewarded after a fine performance in the Test against South Africa where she gave crucial breakthroughs to England by breaking key partnerships. Meanwhile, all-rounder Freya Kemp and left-arm spinner Lindsey Smith have been selected in an Ashes squad for the first time (both T20 squads only). Wicketkeeper batter Bess Heath also made a return to the English side after an injury and has been named in the T20 and Test squad.
Speaking on the MacDonal-Gay’s selection, which was based more on potential than performance, coach Jon Lewis underlined the steel in her character, which helped her get selected for a historic Ashes tour.
“It's incredibly hard," Lewis said on her selection, as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.
"You've got to go with your cricket knowledge and your understanding of the person. Ryana's got real steel in her character. She seems really unflappable at times, and she's really logical about a cricket match. She is able to see a task and go and do it.
“I've been involved in professional cricket for over 30 years now, so you're backing your understanding of what you think cricketers can do. You're putting your finger in the air a little bit, I'm not going to lie, like we did Lauren Filer in the Ashes Test last year. But what I would say is that Ryana, in time, will have the tools to play all formats and be a really good competitor for England.”
The Test match squad also included Maia Bouchier, who impressed with a hundred against South Africa in the recently completed Test match which England won easily by 268 runs.
Additionally, young left-arm fast bowler Mahika Gaur will be with the group, continuing her return to bowling following the injury that made her unavailable for the recent South Africa tour.
“We have named balanced squads for this Ashes series, with a good mix of youth and experience. Ashes series are always special. We want to go there, play our way, and are all excited about the challenges ahead,” Lewis remarked.
England will travel to Sydney on January 2 and play a warm-up game against the Governor General’s XI on January 9. The three ODI games in Sydney, Melbourne, and Hobart will continue after that. The T20Is will be held in Sydney, Canberra, and Adelaide.
England ODI squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge
England T20I squad: Heather Knight (c), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Linsey Smith, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge
England Test squad: Heather Knight (c) , Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge
You can find the fixtures for the multi-format series here.
