England head coach, Jon Lewis has announced his 15-player squad for the Women’s Ashes test Match at Trent Bridge between Thursday 22nd June and Monday 26th June.
With increased professionalism within domestic women’s cricket, there has been a wider pool of players to pick from, with regional professionals, taking favour over centrally contracted players.
Jon Lewis has included uncapped players, Western Storm duo Lauren Filer and Danielle Gibson. Gibson is perhaps the less surprising inclusion having been named as a traveling reserve for the T20 World Cup in February. The all-rounder is also Western Storm’s joint-highest run scorer and leading wicket taker in the Charlotte Edwards Cup for 2023.
Filer, on the other hand, has only previously represented the England Academy but has been a consistent seamer for Western Storm having taken 13 wickets in 9 games this season.
Between the 15th-17th June, England’s squad will face Australia A’s team at the Icora County Ground, Derbyshire in a warm up game while Australia’s senior squad will play England A’s side at the Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicestershire.
Northern Diamonds’ Lauren Winfield-Hill will captain England A with Alice Davidson-Richards and Danni Wyatt will represent England A in the warm-up games but have also been named in Lewis’ 15-strong senior squad.
On the topic of Gibson and Filer’s inclusion, in a press release, Jon Lewis spoke positively about the effect that professionalism has had on squad selection.
“We are fortunate that our talent pool is growing fast, this has enabled us to pick a nicely balanced squad" Lewis explained.
“Dani Gibson is one of the form cricketer’s in the country, she is improving both with bat and ball and if selected in the team, offers us a dynamic cricketer who can change the momentum of the game".
“Lauren is a genuine wicket-taking threat with good pace and swing. Again, if selected in the playing 11, she offers us a point of difference in our bowling attack that could impact a Test match at any point in the game".
The Test Match opens the Ashes and the winner will receive four points, giving an advantage heading into the white ball game. With the potential of two England debutants within the Test XI, it's a punt as to whether the players are ready to step up.
With it being a five-day test match, it is likely that there will be a winner, rather than a draw as there has been on most recent women's test matches, all of which have only been four days.
Below are the squads representing England and England A:
Heather Knight © (Western Storm)
Tammy Beaumont (The Blaze)
Lauren Bell (Southern Vipers)
Alice Capsey (South East Stars)
Kate Cross (Thunder)
Alice Davidson-Richards (South East Stars)
Sophia Dunkley (South East Stars)
Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder)
Lauren Filer (Western Storm)
Danielle Gibson (Western Storm)
Amy Jones (Central Sparks)
Emma Lamb (Thunder)
Nat Sciver-Brunt (VC) (The Blaze)
Issy Wong (Central Sparks)
Danielle Wyatt (Southern Vipers)
Lauren Winfield-Hill © (Northern Diamonds)
Maia Bouchier (Southern Vipers)
Alice Davidson-Richards (South East Stars)
Freya Davies (South East Stars)
Charlie Dean (VC) (Southern Vipers)
Sarah Glenn (The Blaze)
Kirstie Gordon (The Blaze)
Eva Gray (Sunrisers)
Bess Heath (Northern Diamonds)
Eve Jones (Central Sparks)
Paige Scholfield (South East Stars)
Grace Scrivens (Sunrisers)
Danielle Wyatt (Southern Vipers)
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