MIDDLESEX WOMEN'S 2018 SQUAD ANNOUNCED

Middlesex Women have announced their First Team Squad for the 2018 season - with some new faces joining a number of more familiar ones from last year's squad.

After a strong finish to the 2017 season, when the side won seven of their final ten matches, a number of players who starred in that run have been rewarded with a place in this season's squad.

Emily Thorpe and Iqraa Hussain have both been included for the first time after playing important roles in last year's second placed finish in the T20 format. Emily and Iqraa are joined by fellow MCC/Middlesex Academy members Rebecca Tyson, Katie Wolfe and Naomi Dattani - Naomi coming in to her second season as 50 over captain, Katie having spent the winter with the England Women’s Academy and Rebecca featuring in the squad for the first time.

Other new faces in the squad are top order bat Emma Albery and off spinner Bhavika Gajipra who have been rewarded for their hard work and performances over the winter. The five new names in the squad join a settled core of players who, led by Naomi and T20 Captain Natasha Miles, will be looking to build upon the standard set last season. World Cup Winner Fran Wilson, England Senior Academy player Sophia Dunkley and ex-England International Beth Morgan add representative experience to the group that features 11 players who have graduated through the Middlesex Girls pathway.

Looking ahead to the season Sanjay Patel, Middlesex Women's Head Coach, spoke of his enthusiasm at being able to integrate the young players in to the side...

“Having such a young squad brings real excitement and hunger to the group, which will in turn increase the competition for places and put pressure to perform on the more established players.

"We saw in 2017 how new blood can positively influence the team and we are fortunate to be in a position where we have a lot of talented young players eager to break through.

After training hard over the winter months, Naomi Dattani, the club's fifty overs women's captain commented...

“I am very excited to begin the season with the girls, it's been a long winter working hard indoors with both the young and senior players all developing their game. Lots of work has been put in by all; fitness, skills and uniting the squad together. We are all eager to get outside and showcase ourselves more confidently than before.”

Head of Women’s Cricket, Danni Warren, spoke of the impact that increased opportunities for players to train over the winter has had on the standard and competition for places... 

“It has been fantastic to see the number of questions that players have posed of us whilst selecting this squad.

"Outside of the 16 players selected there are a number of others really pushing hard. With so many players benefitting from increased contact time through the MCC/Middlesex Academy or as part of an Elite player group the bar has been raised once again.

"This is a really exciting squad, and one that we are confident will deliver results not only this season but in years to come.”

T20 Captain Natasha Miles summed up the feeling around the squad ahead of the summer...

“I am honoured and excited to reprise my role as Captain of the T20 side in 2018. We have a very exciting squad this year with an incredibly talented group of youngsters coming through. I’m looking forward to stepping out on the field with the girls this year.

"We are very proud of what we achieved last year and have built on that over the winter. As long as we continue to do the right things and work together, we have a real opportunity to challenge for the spot at the top.”

 MIDDLESEX WOMEN'S 2018 SQUAD