The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today announced the England women’s squad for the standalone Kia Women’s Ashes Test match, which is due to get underway at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence (Canterbury) next Tuesday (11th – 14th August).
The 14-strong squad features just one change from the squad that played in the three Women’s Ashes Royal London One-Day Internationals – batsman Fran Wilson (Middlesex) replacing Warwickshire’s Amy Jones. Wilson’s selection reflects her strong recent form, including back-to-back half centuries for the England Women’s Academy in the two warm-up matches against Australia.
Kent and England women’s captain Charlotte Edwards will be hoping that the support of a home crowd during an extended 164th Canterbury Cricket Week will help to give England the edge in the four-day clash, as Australia currently lead the Women’s Ashes series four points to two, following the conclusion of the three Royal London One-Day Internationals.
ECB’s Head of England Women’s Performance, Paul Shaw, said:
“We have selected Fran Wilson as a straight swap for Amy Jones within the Test squad. Fran has been in excellent form with the bat for club and county this summer, and in particular has put in a couple of notable performances for the England Women’s Academy against the Australians during the 50-over and 2-day warm up matches.
“There is no denying that the result of the Kia Women’s Test next week will go a long way to determining the overall outcome of this Women’s Ashes contest. The series is currently well poised with Australia holding a narrow two point advantage after the Royal London ODIs, but we have a very strong recent Test record against them, and this is certainly something that we will take into the match next week.”
Four Women’s Ashes points will be awarded to the winner of the Kia Women’s Test match and two points will be awarded to each side in the event of a draw.
England will be looking to replicate their heroic performance in the last Women’s Ashes Test match at the WACA in 2014, when they secured a memorable 61 run victory on the final day.
For the first time in the history of television broadcast, by covering the Kia Women’s Ashes Test match, Sky Sports will provide live ball-by-ball coverage of a women’s Test match. BBC Radio will also broadcast live radio commentary of every ball of the match.
England’s Women’s Ashes Twenty20 squad will be announced following the conclusion of the Kia Women’s Test match.
England Women’s Ashes Test squad in full:
Charlotte Edwards (captain) - Kent
Katherine Brunt - Yorkshire
Kathryn Cross - Lancashire
Georgia Elwiss - Sussex
Lydia Greenway - Kent
Rebecca Grundy - Warwickshire
Jenny Gunn - Nottinghamshire
Heather Knight (vice-captain) - Berkshire
Laura Marsh - Kent
Natalie Sciver - Surrey
Anya Shrubsole - Somerset
Sarah Taylor - Sussex
Fran Wilson - Middlesex
Lauren Winfield - Yorkshire
