England Academy Squads - Ins & Outs

England have announced their Academy squads for the winter, but not their main squad. Here is the movement in the Academy squads from last year's announcements as far as we can tell.

England Women's Senior Academy
Head Coach - John Stanworth
New Asst Coaches - Tom Smith & Gareth Breese
Georgia Adams - deselected
Hollie Armitage - retained 
Georgie Boyce - retained
Thea Brookes - deselected
Ellen Burt - retained
Alice Davidson-Richards - retained
Freya Davies - retained
Sophia Dunkley - retained
Sophie Ecclestone - presume promoted to main squad
Katie George - retained
Georgia Hennessy - deselected
Evelyn Jones - deselected
Hannah Jones - deselected
Emma Lamb - retained
Sophie Luff - deselected
Paige Scholfield -  deselected
Bryony Smith - retained
Linsey Smith - retained
Eleanor Threlkeld - retained

New faces (all promoted from EWA)
Lauren Bell - Berks
Izzy Cloke - Kent
Charlie Dean - Hants

England Women's Academy
Head Coach - Salliann Briggs - resigned (both Academies now under John Stanworth)
Maia Bouchier - deselected
Alice Dyson - retained
Emily Edgcombe - retained
Danielle Gibson - retained
Sarah Glenn - retained
Amy Gordon - retained
Eva Gray - retained
Lucy Higham - deselected
Anna Nicholls - deselected
Tara Norris - deselected
Millie Pope - deselected
Rhianna Southby - retained
Alex Travers - retained
Katie Wolfe - retained

New faces
None have been added at this time

MD
20/X/17

England Winter Squads announced

England have announced their Academy squads for the winter, but not their main squad. Here is the movement in the squads from last year's announcements as far as we can tell.

England Women's Performance Squad
Tammy Beaumont - retained
Katherine Brunt - retained
Kate Cross - retained
Jodie Dibble - left the squad end of 2015
Charlotte Edwards - retired May 2016
Georgia Elwiss - retained
Tash Farrant - retained
Lydia Greenway - retired June 2016
Rebecca Grundy - current status unclear
Jenny Gunn - retained
Danielle Hazell - retained
Amy Jones - retained
Heather Knight - retained and promoted to captain
Beth Langston - remains currently uncontracted 
Laura Marsh - retained
Nat Sciver - retained
Anya Shrubsole - retained
Sarah Taylor - currently unavailable for selection
Fran Wilson - retained - became contracted player in Jan 2016
Lauren Winfield - retained
Danielle Wyatt - retained
New faces
Alex Hartley - not named in EWSA squad, so assume she has been promoted

England Women's Academy -  - now the England Women's Senior Academy
new Head Coach - John Stanworth
Georgia Adams - retained
Hollie Armitage - retained 
Ellen Burt - retained
Steph Butler - deselected
Freya Davies - retained
Sophia Dunkley - retained
Sophie Ecclestone - retained
Katie George - retained
Alex Hartley - promoted to main squad
Evelyn Jones - retained
Emma Lamb - retained
Sophie Luff - retained
Alex Macdonald - deselected
Bryony Smith - retained
Eleanor Threlkeld - retained

New faces
Georgie Boyce - promoted from EWDP
Thea Brookes - Worcestershire
Alice Davidson-Richards - recalled after three year absence
Georgia Hennessy - recalled after one year absence
Hannah Jones - promoted from EWDP
Paige Scholfield - recalled after one year absence
Linsey Smith - Berkshire


England Women's Development Programme - Now the England Women's Academy 
Emily Arlott - deselected
Megan Belt - deselected
Maia Bouchier - retained
Georgie Boyce - promoted to EWSA
Izzy Cloke - retained
Izzy Collis - deselected
Alice Dyson - retained
Emily Edgcombe - retained
Tiarna Gilkes - deselected
Sarah Glenn - retained
Cordelia Griffith - deselected
Lucy Higham - retained
Hannah Jones - promoted to EWSA
Sophie Mackenzie - deselected
Anna Nicholls - retained
Tara Norris - retained
Rhianna Southby - retained
Erin Staunton-Turner - deselected
Lucy Staunton-Turner - deselected

New faces
Lauren Bell - Berks
Charlie Dean - Hants
Danielle Gibson - Gloucs
Amy Gordon - Surrey
Eva Gray - Surrey
Millie Pope - Middlesex
Alex Travers - Surrey
Katie Wolfe - Middlesex

MD
03/XI/16

Pakistan tour kicks off with two games v Eng Academy

The Pakistan tour of England kicks off this week with two 50 over warm-up games against the England Academy in Loughborough. On Wednesday they play at the Loughborough Carillon CC (now cancelled) and on Friday at Loughborough University ground.

With Pakistan having not played in England for three years they will be hoping that their batsmen can spend some time at the crease, getting used to English conditions, and their bowlers can get a few overs in their legs. As for the England management they will be hoping the Academy bowlers can give Pakistan a hostile welcome, and their batsmen knock off any runs with the minimum of fuss.

Following on from these games the Pakistan team play three ODIs (all of which count towards the ICC Women's Championship) and then three T20s. Details on all the games are below, with links for ticket sales.

There are six changes from the Pakistan squad that last played 50 over cricket in the Caribbean last October, winning one of their four ODIs. Bismah Maroof, Nahida Khan, Muneeba Ali, Sadia Yousuf, and wicket-keeper Sidra Nawaz were all in the Pakistan WWT20 squad. The only new cap is 24 year old Aiman Anwar. Sana Mir will continue to captain the ODI side, but she has handed over the T20 reins to the experienced Bismah Maroof. Javeria Khan, who broke her thumb at the WWT20 is also fit and returns to the squad.

England will be heavy favourites to win both the ODI and T20 series, but they are a team in transition, without Charlotte Edwards, Lydia Greenway and Sarah Taylor, and are under the new leadership of Heather Knight. There may well be a few new faces on the field for England with Fran Wilson and Alex Hartley likely to get an opportunity to show what they can do. Batting seems to be the weakest suit of both teams, but England have the advantage of playing in their home conditions, and being in the middle of their season. Pakistan will do well to get close to a win.

Pakistan ODI and T20 squad: Javeria Khan, Nahida Khan, Sidra Ameen, Bismah Maroof (T20 capt), Muneeba Ali, Sana Mir (ODI capt), Nida Dar, Iram Javed, Asmavia Iqbal, Anam Amin, Sania Iqbal, Sadia Yousuf, Aiman Anwer, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Nain Abidi

Fixtures

15 June - 10.30am - 50 over warm-up v England Academy - Loughborough Carillon CC

17 June - 10.30am - 50 over warm-up v England Academy - Loughborough University

20 June - 2.00pm - ODI at the Fischer County Ground, Grace Road, Leicester - tickets

22 June - 10.30am - ODI at New Road, Worcester - tickets

27 June - 10.30am - ODI at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton - tickets

3 July - 2.30pm - T20I at Bristol County Ground - tickets

5 July - 2.00pm - T20I at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton - tickets

7 July - 6.30pm - T20I at the Essex County Ground, Chelmsford - tickets

MD

14/VI/16

England Academy in Sri Lanka - images

Just a few images from the England Academy Tour to Sri Lanka March/April 2016
Played 8 Won 6 Lost 2

 

 

MD
12/IV/16

England tour to Sri Lanka ends with agonising loss

Two very tired sides battled out two T20s at the Premadasa Stadium to conclude the England Academy and Aussie Shooting Stars tours to Sri Lanka.

In the first game England won easily bowling out the Shooting Stars for just 75 in 17.4 overs. Only Patterson (26), Graham (13) and Molineaux (11) made it into double figures as Sophie Ecclestone claimed 3/11 off her four overs and Sophia Dunkley 3/16 off 3.4 overs. In reply England lost only openers Hollie Armitage (11) and Georgia Adams (20) as Sophia Dunkley (20*) and Fran Wilson (7*) knocked off the runs in just 12.2 overs.

But the second game was a much closer affair with the Aussies this time batting a little better, and England fielding worse, which allowed them to accumulate 111/6 at the end of their 20 overs. Alex Hartley bowled smartly to claim 3/15 off her allotted overs and Sophie Ecclestone (1/18) and Freya Davies (1/25) were the only other wicket-takers. Tahlia McGrath (32*) top scored for the Shooting Stars.

England made a horrible start in reply losing Adams bowled for a duck in the first over and Hollie Armitage caught for 1 in the third over, at which stage they were 6/2. But Emma Lamb looked in imperious form - the only bat to do so during the entire day. She lost Evelyn Jones lbw (8) at 32/3, but had taken England to relative comfort at 70/3 in the tenth over before she pulled a short ball to midwicket for 45. In the next over Sophie Luff (8) also went caught at mid-on, but England still only needed 39 from 9.3 overs, with five wickets in hand. Fran Wilson (12) and Alex Macdonald (7) had got the equation down to 21 off the last five before Macdonald was stumped and then Wilson caught on the boundary at cow corner. England needed 18 off the last three overs and a sumptuous 4 over extra cover from Beth Langston (7) eased the England nerves. Next ball she connected well with a sweep off a full toss. The ball was destined for the boundary but Sophie Molineaux stuck out a right paw at square leg and took a screaming catch. It was probably the key moment.

England were eight down and still needed 10 to win with 13 balls left. Ellie Threlkeld (6) and Steph Butler (4*) got that down to five to win from the last over. They scrambled one from the first ball as both batsmen came, went, waited and finally ran and bowler Alex Price could not get back to the stumps in time to run Butler out. Next ball Threlkeld was well caught behind by Banting as she tried to dab down to third man. The third ball was a dot ball and England managed two on a misfield at midwicket. Number 11 Sophie Ecclestone (2) was on strike for the last two balls with England just one run behind. The fifth ball was a dot and with the final ball Ecclestone was stumped to give Australia the game by one run.

Threlkeld goes with four balls to come

It was a disappointing end for the England girls who had won five out of six ODIs before today's T20 games. For the Aussies it was a reward for some gritty efforts by a squad of just 13 over a very long and hot three weeks in Sri Lanka.

MD
10/IV/16

Aussies hold nerve to win final ODI

In a sweltering hot and airless (not to mention crowdless) Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, the England Academy team were pipped at the post by their Aussie counterparts, chasing down England's below par 232 all out, with two wickets and more just nine balls to spare.

Things had looked good for England after Emma Lamb (44) and Evelyn Jones (42) had taken their stand to 82 in the 16th over before Lamb went caught off a leading edge at extra cover. Five overs later Jones followed caught at mid-off off the legspin of Wellington. Next ball Georgia Adams (16) was caught pulling a short ball straight to midwicket. England had stumbled to 112/3. Fran Wilson (62) and Sophie Luff (21) rebuilt nicely and at 25 overs a score of around 275 looked a distinct possibility on a great batting track. But Luff gloved a dab to the keeper at 161, Dunkley (2) drove one straight back to the bowler at 167 and Threlkeld (10) was bowled at 192. But still Wilson was there. She passed 50 for the third time on this tour, but then rather gave her wicket away with five overs to go smashing McGrath to Hancock on the deep midwicket boundary. Unfortunately the tail could not wag, or indeed use up all the allotted overs, as Steph Butler (5) and Alex Hartley (0) left Freya Davies (4*) without any partners and with 12 balls unused.

In reply Australia made a lugubrious start through Patterson and Molineaux. Patterson was caught behind off Cross in the 9th over for 15 with the Aussie reply hardly underway on 23/1. When Hartley picked up a wicket in her 4th over and Ecclestone one in her 2nd, things were looking very rosey for England with the Aussies on 52/3 in the 18th over. But the Aussie middle order of Graham (38), Banting (44) and Stalenberg (42) started to move the Aussie score along from the 23rd over with all the bowlers coming in for a bit of stick. With 11 overs left the Shooting Stars needed 57 with five wickets in hand, but Gardner (21) and Stalenberg both lifted 6s just over Kate Cross at cow corner off the unfortunate Ecclestone and the target was down to just 44 in ten overs. The returning Cross and Langston tried to pull it out of the bag for England, and a couple of late wickets put some pressure on the Aussies, but Price (20*) and Hancock (5*) kept their heads and knocked the singles to ease past England's score in the 49th over.

It was the best game of the tour to date, and the girls will have probably got more out of a close game than they have out of some of the easy victories. The tour ends on Sunday when England are due to take on the Aussies again in two T20s. However the Aussies, with a squad of only 13, struggled to field 11 players today. Hopefully they can do so on Sunday.

England batting - Lamb 44, Jones 42, Adams 16, Wilson 62, Luff 21, Dunkley 2, Threlkeld 10, Langston 6, Butler 5, Davies 4*, Hartley 0.

England bowling - Cross 9.3-0-41-2, Langston 10-2-36-2, Davies 4-0-31-0, Hartley 7-2-19-1, Ecclestone 10-0-53-2, Butler 4-0-26-0, Dunkley 4-0-24-1

MD
07/IV/16

Academy continue winning ways

England Academy made it three wins out of three over Sri Lanka A in ODIs, and five out of five overall, with just an ODI against the Aussie Shooting Stars tomorrow and then two T20s against the same opposition on Sunday. They will be expecting to keep up their 100% record.

In truth Sri Lanka have been no match for England, as you might expect, and today confirmed the respective strengths of the two sides. Put into bat Sri Lanka struggled to make 133 all out in 38 of their 40 overs (the game having started late after heavy overnight rain and the pitch being left uncovered).

Seamers Langston, Cross and Davies all took an early wicket apiece to leave Sri Lanka struggling at 44/3. The introduction of spin in the shape of left-armer Alex Hartley and off-spinner Steph Butler (3/26) produced more regular wickets, including two suicidal run outs. At 91/8 Sri Lanka were in danger of failing to make three figures. But the ninth wicket added 21, and the tenth the same, to take Sri Lanka to 133 all out.

In reply opening pair Emma Lamb (19) and Evelyn Jones (1) again got the opening duties, but Jones soon went slashing a ball to slip. Georgia Adams (9) followed in similar fashion in the next over to leave England on 13/2. Lamb and Fran Wilson (44) seemed to have things under control until Lamb missed a sweep shot and was lbw. This brought Wilson's former Somerset team-mate Sophie Luff to the crease. They had taken the score to beyond half of what was required when Luff was run out calling Wilson through for an optimistic single and failing to get back at the non-striker's end when Wilson declined the run.

But it seemed as though Wilson and Sophia Dunkley (18*) would bring home the win as they accumulated runs without too much bother, with the aid of some sloppy fielding from the tiring Sri Lankans, but Wilson then drove hard and aerial, but straight to mid-off. Kate Cross (18) helped Dunkley level the scores but then skied a ball to midwicket. Dunkley finished the job next ball with a trademark searing drive through wide mid-off. Job very much done.

It was a solid victory, which is never to be sneezed at, but in terms of developing future England players it probably had fairly limited impact. England will hope to be pushed a little harder by the Aussies tomorrow in their last 50 over fixture of the tour.

England bowling (unofficial) - Langston 7-2-21-1, Cross 7-2-12-2, Macdonald 4-2-19-0, Davies 6-2-15-1, Hartley 7-0-32-1, Butler 7-2-26-3.

England batting (unofficial) - Jones 1, Lamb 19, Adams 9, Wilson 44, Luff 13, Dunkley 18*, Cross 18, Macdonald 0*, Butler, Hartley * Langston did not bat.

MD
06/IV/16

Academy make it four in a row

England Academy cruised to their fourth victory in four, but then so they should against a Sri Lanka A side that has buckets of enthusiasm, but is lacking in raw talent.

England posted another decent total of 273 all out based around solid contributions from opener Emma Lamb (85) and keeper Ellie Threlkeld (58). Sophia Dunkley also hit a lusty 38. After a slow start Lamb found her touch and after reaching her fifty let loose on the Sri Lankan bowlers. In the over she was out bowled she had already taken 14 runs, but advancing down the wicket she played over the ball and departed bowled.

Dunkley creamed her first two balls for fours through the covers and continued to look to punish almost every ball she faced. She found a willing partner in Threlkeld who was happy to play both straight man and straight in the V, pushing the singles to allow her team mate to wreak more havoc. Dunkley finally played one shot too many and was stumped, but Threkeld continued bringing up her fifty in the 48th over. She celebrated in the next over by launching an imperious 6 over wide long-on, but was out in the same over caught behind.

273 was always going to be too many for the Sri Lankans although they started brightly. But they lost wickets at regular intervals - 26, 52, 68, 80, 94, 100, 113 and 113 - four of them to Sophie Ecclestone who bowled her 10 overs straight through for figures of 4/32, starting at the tenth over. At 113/8 the game looked to be coming to an early conclusion but Sri Lankan number 9 Malsha had other ideas. She swung lustily to leg in the fashion of someone scything down barley, or flat-batted the ball over extra cover. It proved effective as she scored 47 quick runs as the ninth wicket pair added 66 in 11 overs. The partnership was finally broken by the returning Beth Langston, and  Kate Cross polished off the final wicket, leaving the Sri Lankans 186 all out, still 87 runs adrift.

England batting (unofficial) - Lamb 85, Jones 15, Adams 18, Wilson 1, Dunkley 38, Armitage 0, Threlkeld 58, Cross 16, Butler 18, Ecclestone 1, Davies 2*

Engalnd bowling (unofficial) - Langston 6-0-25-2, Davies 4-0-21-0, Cross 3.5 -0-15-1, Ecclestone 10-2-32-4, Hartley 7-0-28-2, Armitage 4-0-14-0, Butler 2-0-29-0, Dunkley 3-0-16-0

MD
2/IV/16

England Academy make it three out of three

England Academy handed out another serious drubbing of their Aussie counterparts when they bowled them out for just 135 inside 35 overs, chasing England's 200 all out, on a turning pitch at the P. Sara Stadium in Colombo.

Batting first England made a poor start with Sophia Dunkley caught at slip off the away swinging Brennan for a duck and Emma Lamb (9) caught behind off the same bowler in her next over. England were 11/2.

But Fran Wilson (69) and Georgia Adams (49) seemed to have set England up for a decent score with a 113 run third wicket partnership. Wilson cut, drove and swept with great timing and Adams bludgeoned the bad ball to the boundary. Adams succumbed to the returning Brennan, caught behind, in the 23rd over, but England must have been thinking of in excess of 260 at this point. But when Wilson mistimed a pull off Brennan and was caught England's innings started to unravel. Hollie Armitage skied Price to extra cover for 0, before Sophie Luff (15) and Kate Cross added 29 for the fifth wicket. It was the last meaningful partnership for England, and it could have been worse if Cross had not been dropped on the boundary on 14. Luff clothed a full-toss to mid-off and Langston (5) was lbw, both to off-spinner Price. Next over Steph Butler (0) skied Wellington to square leg. Within four more overs the last two wickets had fallen, as Cross (34) was caught and bowled and Threkeld was lbw. England had managed to put an under-par 200 on the board.

After their disastrous start in the last game the Aussies took a more measured approach this time. Patterson (43) batted nicely again putting away the bad ball, while Molineaux (11) was resolute in defence. They took the score to 64 in the 15th over before Hartley and Butler (4/35) got to work on a pitch that was producing some decent turn and bounce. Hartley removed Patterson lbw sweeping and then Butler enticed Molineaux to drive to Cross at mid-off. Stalenburg then repeated the error and McGrath was well caught sweeping at Butler and gloving it to keeper Threlkeld. From a position of some strength the Aussies were now 66/4.

The Butler/Cross partnership then accounted for Gardner and slow left-armer Sophie Ecclestone weighed in with the sixth wicket as Price swung her to Davies on the deep midwicket boundary. 83/6 and the Aussie innings was in tatters. Skipper Banting briefly held up the onslaught, but when she was bowled by leggie Sophia Dunkley's third ball, and Smith was caught behind off Ecclestone the end appeared to be in sight. But Hancock and Wellington  held England at bay until Freya Davies applied the coup de grace picking up the ninth and tenth wickets in successive overs to catches at mid-off by Ecclestone. Australia were all out for 135 and England had won by 65 runs.

England will be keen to keep their 100% record going when they play Sri Lanka A tomorrow at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.

England batting (unofficial) - Dunkley 0, Lamb 9, Adams 49, Wilson 69, Luff 15, Armitage 0, Cross 35, Langston 5, Butler 0, Ecclestone 0*, Threlkeld 0

England bowling (unofficial) - Langston 5-0-16-0, Cross 4-0-17-0, Davies 3.5-0-20-2, Hartley 5-2-18-1, Butler 6-2-35-4, Ecclestone 6-1-20-2, Dunkley 4-0-14-1

Australia batting (unofficial) - Patterson 43, Molineaux 13, McGrath 1, Stalenberg 1, Banting 18, Gardner 4, Price 0, Smith 1, Hancock 11, Wellington 15*, Vakarewa 1.

Australia bowling (unofficial) - Brennan 8-2-22-4, Hancock 4-0-22-0, Wellington 10-2-37-1, McGrath 3-0-20-0, Smith 6-0-28-0, Vakarewa 4-0-22-0, Price 8-1-30-3, Molineaux 1.5-0-7-2

MD
1/IV/16

England thrash the Aussies

England Academy took full advantage of a tired-looking Shooting Stars side, bowling them out for just 148 in less than 38 overs, and then knocking off the runs with just four wickets down with nearly 20 overs to spare.

The Stars had played a 50 over game yesterday against Sri Lanka which they had won quite comfortably, but with just a 13 player squad and the temperatures well above 30 degrees, and the humidity energy sapping, it was perhaps little wonder that they were no match for a very keen England squad with England-contracted player Kate Cross once again at the forefront.

Within six overs the Aussie innings was in disarray as Cross claimed three wickets whilst conceding just one run. Molineux was caught and bowled for a duck in her first over, McGrath bowled in her third and the much-touted Stalenberg picked up a golden duck as she edged through to Threlkeld. The England camp were cock-a-hoop. At the other end Beth Langston was bowling an impeccable line and length meaning there was just no release for the Aussie batsmen. Eventually Langston gave way to Macdonald and the Aussies unleashed a series of pulls and cuts to finally get the scoreboard moving. They just seemed to have the measure of the pitch when Graham walked too far across her stumps and was bowled by Alex Hartley. The Aussies were 67/4 in the 18th over. Not long after Hartley claimed her second as Gardner advanced down the pitch and missed and left Threlkeld with an easy stumping. This was followed by an unnecessary run out as skipper Banting and opener Patterson got their wires crossed. Banting was run out by about 15 yards - 76/6.

The seventh wicket pair added 35 but the reintroduction of Cross seemed to mesmerise Patterson, who had batted a long time for her 37. Third ball of the new Cross spell she guided a short ball straight into the hands of Jones at cover point. Her vigil was over and Cross had 4/12.

Alex Price and Lauren Smith then added an enterprising 31 with Price putting away the bad balls with some aplomb, but when Smith went bowled by a full ball from Langston, the end of the innings was nigh. Ecclestone removed Price in the next over caught behind cutting one too close to her and Langston bowled Hancock neck and crop in her next over.

In reply the England Academy could not really have had a better start. Emma Lamb (26) and Evelyn Jones (38) put on 70 for the first wicket, with Jones finding the boundary with quiet regularity during the opening powerplay and thereafter as the Aussies kept the field up in search of wickets. Both went with the score on 70 though with Lamb trying to force the pace and being stumped and Jones bowled by a good leg-break from Wellington. It was only a minor blip for England though. Fran Wilson made 20 and took her team to within 18 of victory before she drove a ball straight into extra cover's hands, but Georgia Adams (37*) and Sophie Luff (10*) quickly polished the game off as the Aussies wilted in the heat.

The Academy play the Aussies again on Friday when they can probably expect a tougher ride.

England batting (unofficial) - Lamb 26, Jones 38, Adams 37*, Wilson 20, Luff 10*
England bowling (unofficial) - Langston 6.1-3-13-2, Cross 8-1-18-4, Macdonald 3-0-26-0, Hartley 8-1-34-2, Ecclestone 8-0-30-1, Butler 4-0-22-0

Australia batting (unofficial) - Patterson 37, Molineux 0, McGrath 5, Stalenberg 0, Graham 31, Gardner 7, Banting 0, Price 30, Smith 18, Hancock 4, Wellington 2*
Australia bowling (unofficial) - Hancock 3-0-18-0, Brennan 5-0-20-0, Vakarewa 5-0-16-0, Wellington 6-0-33-1, Price 6-1-22-2, Smith 3.1-0-24-1, Stalenberg 3-0-14-0

MD
29/III/16

England Academy start with a win

England Academy kicked off their tour of Sri Lanka with a convincing win over their hosts on a good batting track at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.

Having won the toss skipper Fran Wilson elected to bat and Emma Lamb and Evelyn Jones took 28 off the first five overs - I was going to say without breaking a sweat, but on a stifling hot and humid day in Sri Lanka's capital, that would have been completely inappropriate. But in the sixth over Lamb clipped a ball to mid-on and set off for the single. Jones was not on the same wavelength and remained firmly rooted at the non-striker's end. Lamb ((9) attempted to return home, but was run out comfortably. England were 31/1. Holly Armitage joined the fray at number three, but within three overs both Jones and she were back on the England balcony under the whirring fans. Jones (26) clipped a full-toss to midwicket and Armitage (1) hooked a ball straight down deep square leg's throat. England were 46/3.

Bath duo Fran Wilson and Sophie Luff set about rebuilding the innings. Initially they nudged and nurdled and scampered quick singles, but as they grew in confidence Wilson hit some delightful extra cover drives and Luff got on her dancing shoes, advancing down the wicket to the myriad of tiny Sri Lankan spin bowlers.

Both batted at an even tempo and both reached their fifties in the 28th over of the game. Next over Luff was gone for 54, advancing again but hoisting one to long on. The pair had added 103 for the third wicket. Kate Cross then joined Wilson, but she had little to do but nudge the odd single as Wilson cut loose. The pair added 76 for the fourth wicket, of which Cross contributed just 9. Wilson had advanced in the meantime to an effortless 115. She was out bowled advancing down the wicket and effectively yorking herself, but by this time England were well set on 225/5 with 12 overs to come.

Ellie Threlkeld (6) came and went quickly but Cross came out of her shell and hit some good straight shots before she walked past one and was stumped for 33. The tail did its best to wag with Alex Macdonald making 29 before she was caught at long on. Sophie Ecclestone bagged a first ball duck, but Beth Langston (14*) and Alex Hartley (3*) saw England through to an imposing 311/9.

In reply Sri Lanka never looked like keeping up with the run rate. Kate Cross and Freya Davies opened the bowling and kept things tight with Cross making the initial breakthrough in the 5th over thanks to a catch by Langstone. The second wicket was a run out through a direct hit from Luff. Sri Lanka were 42/2 in the 12th over. As the heat took its toll on the fast bowlers the spinners were thrown the ball - Butler, Hartley and Ecclestone all bowled tightly without there appearing to be much turn. Butler claimed the third wicket with Sri Lanka having plodded to 85 in the 22nd over. The game continued to drift along with Sri Lanka content to take 4/5 per over mainly in ones and twos. Having made it to 148/3 in the 35th over there was a sudden flurry of wickets - one each for Langston, Cross and Ecclestone and another Luff run out. At 159/7 the game was effectively over and Wilson brought her bowlers back for short two over spells and even brought on part-time spinner Lamb to bowl five overs. She accounted for the eight wicket as a full toss was bunted to Wilson at midwicket and Butler took the ninth thanks to a good catch from Cross at deep cow. The Sri Lanka tail enjoyed the last 10 overs adding 71 to their total, but still finished 75 short of England's score.

The game took over seven and a half hours to complete in stifling conditions and many of the England girls looked shattered at the end. They have a day to rest before they meet the Australian Shooting Stars on Tuesday at the Panagora Stadium.

Batting (unofficial) - Emma Lamb 9, Evelyn Jones 26, Hollie Armitage 1, Fran Wilson 115, Sophie Luff 54, Kate Cross 33, Ellie Threlkeld 6, Alex Macdonald 29, Beth Langston 14*, Sophie Ecclestone 0, Alex Hartley 3*
Bowling (unofficial) - Kate Cross 6-0-22-2; Freya Davies 5-0-18-0; Alex Macdonald 6-1-33-0, Beth Langston 6-1-26-1; Steph Butler 8-0-36-2; Alex Hartley 8-0-27-0; Sophie Ecclestone 6-0-27-1; Emma Lamb 5-0-34-1

MD
27/III/16

England need to look to the future

England have recently announced their England Women's Performance winter training squad (EWPS) for 2015/2016, which is exactly the same as last winter's squad minus Sonia Odedra. The squad is made up of the 18 contracted players (named in May 2014), plus non-contracted Jodie Dibble, Beth Langston and Fran Wilson. In the words of Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr "plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose" - the more things change, the more they stay the same.

In fact a little research suggests that very little has changed in the England camp over the last few years. Here is the 15 player squad from the summer of 2012 selected to play the Indians :-

Tammy Beaumont
Katherine Brunt
Arran Brindle
Holly Colvin
Charlotte Edwards
Georgia Elwiss
Lydia Greenway
Jenny Gunn
Dani Hazell
Heather Knight
Laura Marsh
Susie Rowe
Anya Shrubsole
Sarah Taylor
Dani Wyatt

Looks very familiar! In fact the only players that have left - Brindle, Colvin and Rowe have done so of their own volition. Certainly Colvin would still be there if she had not decided to take a break from international cricket. These 12 plus Kate Cross, Tash Farrant, Rebecca Grundy, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver and Lauren Winfield make up the current 18 contracted players.

Compare this with the Southern Stars contracted player list from 2102 :-

Alex Blackwell                   
Melissa Bulow
Jess Cameron
Sarah Coyte
Lauren Ebsary
Sarah Elliott
Jodie Fields
Rachael Haynes
Alyssa Healy
Julie Hunter
Jessica Jonassen
Meg Lanning
Sharon Millanta
Erin Osborne
Ellyse Perry
Leah Poulton
Clea Smith
Lisa Sthalekar

Only those in bold are still contracted players. This shows that just nine of those 18 players are still contracted. The other nine have been replaced by Kristen Beams, Nicole Bolton, Renee Farrell, Holly Ferling, Grace Harris, Delissa Kimmince, Megan Schutt and Elyse Villani.

Perhaps the lack of change would be understandable if the England players were all still young. But in fact three of them are over 30 (the oldest being Charlotte Edwards at 35), and the average age for the England contracted players is 25.66. Only Kristen Beams and Alex Blackwell are over 30 in the current Aussie squad and captain Meg Lanning is just 23.

There is of course something to be said for stability in a squad, but new players need to be introduced, played and brought on. England appear to have gone stale. Not only do they not look beyond the current 18 contracted players, but those contracted players have not changed for 18 months and it looks unlikely they will do so for another 14 months. That is not healthy.

The departure of both Paul Shaw (Performance Director) and Lisa Keightley (Head of the Academy) may prove a catalyst for change, but it will depend who takes over from them. More time and money needs to be invested in the Academy players, and Academy games and tours need to be just that. Not games and tours for contracted players. If contracted players need game time then more games should be organised for them. In the so-called Academy tour to Dubai in February five of the 14 players chosen were contracted and four more were from the EWPS. Only five players were genuinely from the Academy. In contrast the Aussies took one young contracted player (Elyse Villani) and included seven teenagers in their squad. In the two day "Academy" game against Australia this summer seven contracted players played, two EWPS players and just two genuine Academy players. Not only did this not benefit the England Academy players, but it meant Australia had a better warm-up game.

The women's game is moving on around the world and England cannot afford to keep looking back. Let's hope the new Head Coach can install that philosophy throughout the England player pathway.

MD
05/X/15

Academy pay for England' s poor 2015

England have named their three winter training squads, which include a total of 55 players ranging from 35 year old Charlotte Edwards down to 15 year old Rhianna Southby. The three squads are the England Women's Performance Squad (EWPS), the England Women's Academy (EWA) and the England Women's Development Programme (EWDP) (which used to be U19s, but now appears to have no age restriction).

Despite a poor 2015 for England (both in New Zealand and at home in the Ashes) the only change from last year's EWPS is the dropping of Notts' Sonia Odedra, who, after the EWA tour to Dubai, played no further part in England or England Academy games during the summer. All 18 contracted players remain, with Jodie Dibble, Beth Langston and Fran Wilson again expected to train at the same level without payment. There are no additions from the Academy, although with eight of the 18 contracted players wintering in Australia there should be some opportunities for the Academy players to be called up to train with the EWPS. The ECB have also confirmed that the current England contracts will now continue until the end of January 2016, although an announcement on new contracts will apparently be made before the end of 2015. Given the lack of movement into the main squad it seems unlikely there will be many surprises. England either have great faith in what they have or they are not impressed by what is coming through?

But in the Academy four players have lost their places - Aylish Cranstone, Georgia Hennessy, Paige Scholfield and Carla Rudd, with five girls promoted from last year's EWDP U19s - Sophia Dunkley (opening bat/leg spinner), Sophie Ecclestone (left-arm spinner), Katie George (left-arm seamer), Bryony Smith (hard-hitting top order bat) and Ellie Threlkeld (wicket-keeper bat). In addition Sussex's 17 year old Ellen Burt (right-am seamer/ middle order bat) has been added into the Academy after a good season with her county at U17 and senior level, and in the rain-affected Junior Super 3s in August.

In addition the Academy have also lost their Head Coach Lisa Keightley, who has decided to return to her native Australia. High Performance Manager Jonathan Finch steps into the role for the time being, although I understand that the ECB hope to make a new appointment early in the new year.

In the EWDP eight girls lose their places for 2015/2016, but coming in are Megan Belt, Izzy Cloke, Alice Dyson, Emily Edgcombe, Tiarna Gilkes, Sarah Glenn, Lucy Higham, Rhianna Southby and twins Erin and Lucy Staunton-Turner. Most of those that have been omitted are 18 and 19 and most of those that have been brought in are two or three years younger.

The full squads are:-

England Women's Performance Squad
Tammy Beaumont
Katherine Brunt
Kate Cross
Jodie Dibble
Charlotte Edwards
Georgia Elwiss
Tash Farrant
Lydia Greenway
Rebecca Grundy
Jenny Gunn
Danielle Hazell
Amy Jones
Heather Knight
Beth Langston
Laura Marsh
Nat Sciver
Anya Shrubsole
Sarah Taylor
Fran Wilson
Lauren Winfield
Danielle Wyatt

England Women's Academy
Georgia Adams
Hollie Armitage
Ellen Burt
Steph Butler
Freya Davies
Sophia Dunkley
Sophie Ecclestone
Katie George
Alex Hartley
Evelyn Jones
Emma Lamb
Sophie Luff
Alex Macdonald
Bryony Smith
Eleanor Threlkeld

England Women's Development Programme
Emily Arlott
Megan Belt
Maia Bouchier
Georgie Boyce
Izzy Cloke
Izzy Collis
Alice Dyson
Emily Edgcombe
Tiarna Gilkes
Sarah Glenn
Cordelia Griffith
Lucy Higham
Hannah Jones
Sophie Mackenzie
Anna Nicholls
Tara Norris
Rhianna Southby
Erin Staunton-Turner
Lucy Staunton-Turner

MD
22/IX/15

No way back for shattered England

Losing the Ashes Test means that England are now 2-8 down in the Ashes Series with 6 points up for grabs from the remaining T20s. They would have to win all three of the T20s against the current T20 World Champions to retain the Ashes. They will not do so. This is a team that looks devoid of confidence in their own abilities. Almost without exception they are batting like rabbits caught in the headlights of an oncoming truck. They appear to be so terrified of making a mistake that they are literally paralysed into inaction.

It is true to say that in the last Ashes Series played in England in 2013, England did win all three of the T20s they played against the Aussies, and England are unbeaten at "Fortress Chelmsford" where they are playing the first T20 on Wednesday week (26th August). But that is all history and England have spent the past five years looking back at past glories as an indicator of future performance. It has not panned out.

Those of us who have watched England closely (and the England players in their county colours) over the last few years have frequently lamented the lack of depth to the England batting line-up. Charlotte Edwards and, to a lesser extent, Sarah Taylor, have been the props holding the batting up. England have doggedly stuck to the same players time after time after time. There have been fleeting glances of form - Lauren Winfield's 74 against the South Africans last summer at Edgbaston; Nat Sciver's 65* against the Kiwis at Lincoln in February, but there have been far more failures than successes.

Last year's Test against India should have rung some alarm bells. 12 of the 20 England wickets that fell were to lbw appeals, on a slow, low track that offered little or nothing to the seamers or spinners. The problem was players playing across the line. Professional England, as they had become, were bowled out for 99 and 202 against a team of amateurs and lost by six wickets. It was not a blip, but it was indicative of the fragility of England's batting.

In New Zealand the England middle-order simply failed to turn up for the first three ODI games, which meant England lost the ICC WC series 1-2. They are currently languishing in fourth place in the ICC WC table, seven points behind leaders Australia, having won just four out of the nine games they have played.

England have adopted a head in the sand attitude. England's demise in the Test was all too predictable and they have no-one to turn to to try and get them out of the hole they are in, bar the 18 contracted players on whom they have concentrated all their efforts over the past two years. There are no T20 batting superstars waiting in the wings, so the same batting line-up is likely to be asked to do what they can. With confidence at rock bottom they are likely to get blown away.

Short-term there is little that England can do, bar try and inspire, enthuse and re-invigorate the current crop of players. That inspiration and leadership needs to come from the top.

Longer-term England need to take a hard look at the current contract system. The 18 players contracts are due to be reviewed in September and new contracts awarded in October. By that time the same 18 players will already have been contracted for 18 months. Should the cash be shared more fairly amongst those who have potential? Everyone below the 18 contracted players are unpaid amateurs. Even those additional players named in last year's ECB Winter Training Squad - Jodie Dibble, Beth Langston, Sonia Odedra, and Fran Wilson. For the past 9 months they have been doing exactly the same as the 18 paid players, for nothing. None of them were offered a car by KIA. Also what will happen to contracted players whose contracts may be terminated? There is no cushion of going back into county cricket and earning a reasonable salary while trying to get your place back. Chances are they will be lost to cricket for good.

England also need to look beyond the Loughborough Bubble. At the present time it seems like it is almost the only route for progression into the England set-up. The other MCCU universities do little or nothing to enhance women cricket players. In fact the second best university for women cricketers is non-MCCU Exeter University - current holders of the BUCs Indoor Title and runners-up to Loughborough for the last two years in the BUCS Final at Lords. This year Exeter just had to contend with seven full internationals, two Academy players and one U19 EWDP player in the Loughborough team that defeated them.

Clare Connor herself espoused the importance of cricket players getting an education and qualifications as well as playing the game. Even if girls reach the top the salaries are not high. Life at the top can be precarious, subject to form, favour and fitness. And even the longest careers are likely to only stretch into the 30s. That leaves a long time after cricket. Getting that education at Loughborough should not be a prerequisite to success on the cricket field. The ECB need to expand their horizons.

Alongside, or in conjunction with, the new WCSL (Women's Cricket Super League), the ECB needs to expand the centres of excellence available for women cricketers, so that young players can continue their education away from Loughborough if they chose and avoid excessive travel time to train regularly. It will also allow other coaches to feed into the development of players.

I am a fan of the concept of the WCSL, and what it is trying to achieve. There are simply not enough good players to go around the current 38 county system. But it is going to be difficult to implement if the non-contracted players are not paid. The ECB have no objection to the franchises paying their players, but they are not going to fund it, and what happens if one franchise does and another does not?

In the short-term it seems odd that none of the England batsmen involved in the Test were released to their counties this weekend to play in the final round of the NatWest County T20 competition. Surely it would have been ideal preparation? Instead they will have a couple of practice games this week against young male opponents. Australia meanwhile are in Ireland playing three T20Is against the Ireland Women's team that has beaten both Sussex and Yorkshire in Division One T20 games in the past couple of weeks.

England tour South Africa in February for more ICC WC games and in March the T20 World Cup is being staged in India. The WCSL will not come quickly enough to have any effect on England's performances in these tournaments. Indeed it will not really be up and running properly before England host the World Cup in 2017. The next few years could be tough for England on the international circuit.

MD
18/VIII/15

ECB announce EWA squads to play Aussies

The ECB have announced two England Women's Academy Squads to play Australia in two games. The first is a two day game at Loughborough this weekend, and the second is a three day game at Beckenham CC from 5th to 7th August. They have also announced that the Test squad will not be announced until after this weekend's fixture, which means that those playing have one last chance to impress.

Three of the England Women's squad that played in the recent Ashes ODI series are included in the team for Loughborough - Georgia Elwiss, Amy Jones and Laura Marsh. Contracted players Tammy Beaumont (captain), Tash Farrant, Danielle Hazell and Danielle Wyatt also play, in what looks like a strong Academy line-up.

In the three day game the following week the EWA will be bolstered by four young Surrey male players, presumably with a view to providing Australia with some "tougher" opposition and to rest any players potentially playing in the Test Match which starts on 11th August. Tammy Beaumont again captains, with Farrant, Hazell and Wyatt again selected.

The Squads

EWA v Australia, Loughborough University, 1st & 2nd August

Tammy Beaumont
Freya Davies
Jodie Dibble
Sophie Ecclestone
Georgia Elwiss
Tash Farrant
Amy Jones
Evelyn Jones
Danielle Hazell
Beth Langston
Laura Marsh
Fran Wilson
Danielle Wyatt

EWA v Australia, Beckenham CC, 5th to 7th August

Tammy Beaumont
Harry Alderson (Surrey Boy)
Harriharan Aravin (Surrey Boy)
Ajeet Dale (Surrey Boy)
Freya Davies
Jodie Dibble
Alex Hartley
Tash Farrant
Danielle Hazell
Beth Langston
Omar Ramzen (Surrey Boy)
Carla Rudd
Fran Wilson
Danielle Wyatt

MD
30/VII/15

EWA remain unbeaten

The England Women's Academy team made it four wins out of four this season as they comfortably beat a strong Loughborough University MCCU team, which included England's Anya Shrubsole and Fran Wilson, plus the Academy's own Georgia Adams and Paige Scholfield. For Loughborough it was a great chance to warm-up before their BUCs final at Lords next Tuesday against Exeter University.

EWA players Sophie Luff, Steph Butler, Aylish Cranstone, Freya Davies, Alex Hartley, Evelyn Jones, Emma Lamb, and Carla Rudd were joined in the EWA team by EWDP U19s Emily Arlott, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Katie George, and Cordelia Griffith.

Invited to bat Loughborough were soon in trouble at 13/2 as opening bowlers Freya Davies and Katie George each picked up a wicket (Marie Kelly and Adams), but Wilson (55) and Shrubsole (36) then added 76 for the third wicket before Shrubsole was out lbw to Hartley. Scholfield then entered the fray and looked to be in good touch, but with the score on 124, she lost her partner as Wilson advanced down the wicket to Hartley (2- 30) and was bowled. Just six runs later Scholfield too was gone, lbw to Ecclestone trying to force a full-length ball to the legside, and from here the Loughborough innings imploded as they lost their last seven wickets for just 29 runs. Chief destroyer was Davies, returning at the start of the batting powerplay to claim three wickets in 19 balls for just six runs to finish with figures of 4-29 and bowl out Loughborough for 153.

Freya Davies drives another ball to the boundary
(picture courtesy of Don Miles)

But things did not look good for the EWA as they slipped to 13/3 as Lamb, Dunkley and Cranstone were all removed, and when Griffith (33) and Jones went in quick succession the score had only moved on to 71/5. Loughborough looked to be in control. But EWA skipper Luff (38*) was solid in her defence and knew she had plenty of time.

Initially she and Carla Rudd (13) took the score beyond 100, but the decisive, and winning, partnership was with Davies (25*). Together they added an unbeaten 45 as the EWA cruised past the required score in just the 36th over with four wickets still in hand.

The EWA next take on Whitgift School on Tuesday, the same day as the BUCs final which will mean that again several U19s are likely to be given the chance to show what they can do.

A full scorecard is available here.

MD
20/VI/15

EWA outplay Wilts Boys

The Wiltshire U15 Boys towered over most of the England Women Academy players, but on the cricket pitch the girls played the smarter T20 cricket and won both games they played, in their opening fixtures of the EWA's development game season. True the girls were older than their male counterparts (ages ranged from 17 to 23) and the boys admitted that they had not played a T20 game together as a county, but that did not detract from the fact that the girls out-thought the boys on the pitch with their choice of bowlers, fielding positions and general game management. In all of this they were exceptionally well captained by Somerset's Sophie Luff.

In the first game the EWA made a rather tentative start losing both openers Emma Lamb and Evelyn Jones for 6 runs apiece in the powerplay, leaving them on 18/2 after the first six overs. Paige Scholfield (10) briefly added some impetus before she was caught at wide mid-off. After 10 overs the EWA were struggling on 38/3, and they continued to struggle as Alex Macdonald was bowled for 11, and Luff was caught at mid-on. Carla Rudd came in for the last four overs and hit 21* off 15 balls to take the final score to 99/6 at the end of their twenty overs. It seemed unlikely to be enough against a team of hard-hitting young lads.

As it was it proved to be just enough. Nine off the first over from Freya Davies looked to be an ominous start, but she followed that up with a maiden, as did left-arm spinner Alex Hartley and at the end of the powerplay Wilts were on 23/1, with Macdonald claiming the opening wicket. Steph Butler then bowled her four overs on the trot conceding just seven runs and claiming one wicket, as Wilts limped to the thirteenth over with 42/4 on the board. Butler's bowling partner had been Tara Norris, who claimed 2/15. With three overs left the game looked dead and buried with Wilts still needing 36 to win, but Wilt's Will Thomas suddenly came to life crashing 11 off the 18th over from Macdonald with a towering 6 over long off. He then did the same to Davies's second ball of the 19th and claimed 4 next ball as he was dropped on the long-off boundary, Hartley dislocating her finger in the process. But Davies kept her cool and had Thomas well caught by Jones on the midwicket boundary. Wilts still only needed 10 off the last over, but Macdonald restricted them to just four singles to leave EWA winners by five runs.

scorecard for Game 1

In game 2 it was Wilts turn to bat first, but the EWA made a great start with Davies opening with a maiden which also included a run out, and Butler conceding just three runs from the second over and claiming the second Wilts' wicket. Davies added the third wicket in the 5th over and another run out left Wilts precariously poised at 25/4 as the powerplay ended. After 10 overs they had reached 41/4, but from there on in Wilts began to motor thanks again to Will Thomas, who scored 67 off 52 balls, before he was out in the 18th over caught by Jones - a steepling catch at mid-off. Norris had earlier picked up the 5th wicket and with two overs to go Wilts were 100/6. Just four came from Davies' 19th and five from Macdonald's last with another wicket to leave the EWA chasing 109/7.

After 26 runs from the first two overs the EWA never looked back. They lost Emma Lamb caught behind for 13 in the third over, but after that Jones (36*) and Luff (37) accumulated steadily, pushing and running sharp singles to keep the score ticking over. Wilts had no real answer and as Luff attempted to hit the winning run in the 18th over she was caught at extra cover. Jones completed the job with the first ball of the next over, for a comprehensive eight wicket win.

scorecard for Game 2

EWA team - Sophie Luff (capt), Steph Butler, Izi Collis, Freya Davies, Alex Hartley, Evelyn Jones, Emma Lamb, Alex Macdonald, Tara Norris, Carla Rudd, Paige Scholfield,

MD
5/VI/15

EWA beat EWDP in season opener

A somewhat depleted England Women's Academy offered the EWDP U19s an early season opportunity to score some bragging rights over their more senior counterparts. However early wickets from the Sussex quick, Freya Davies, put the EWDP on the back foot, and confident runs from fellow Sussex player, Paige Scholfield, ensured the EWA cruised home with more than 12 overs still in the locker.

The EWA were missing - Georgia Adams (injured), Hollie Armitage (injured), Steph Butler (Sri Lanka), Alex Hartley (Sri Lanka), Georgia Hennessy (unavailable), Emma Lamb (Sri Lanka) and Alex Macdonald (Sri Lanka), so it was left to Davies, Scholfield, Aylish Cranstone, Evelyn Jones, Sophie Luff, and Carla Rudd to keep the young upstarts down, with help from some of the U19s themselves - namely Emily Arlott, Maia Bouchier, Marie Kelly, Sophie Mackenzie, Caitlin O'Keefe and, most significantly, Durham left-arm spinner Rachael Petherick.

In the opposition camp EWDP coach Sally Ann Briggs thought she had a decent line-up of young talent, namely Anna Nicholls, Ellie Threlkeld, Cordelia Griffith, Bryony Smith, Izzy Collis, Alli Kelly, Georgie Boyce, Sophia Dunkley, Nalisha Patel, Katie George and Tara Norris. It was a team that looked on paper to have a strong batting line-up and their self-confidence was evident when they won they toss and elected to bat first on the main pitch at Loughborough, which looked to have plenty of runs in it.

Unfortunately for the EWDP things did not go according to plan as Freya Davies, bowling with good pace and swing, removed three of the top four in her opening six over spell. In the first over of the game Anna Nicholls (2) played across the line and was lbw, beaten for pace, and in the third over her fellow opener, Ellie Threlkeld (5), was bowled. Just as the batsmen seemed to be getting on top Davies accounted for Bryony Smith as she too was beaten for pace, skying a top edged pull to square leg. At 43 for 3 the EWDP were in trouble. But Essex's Cordelia Griffith (54) and Sussex's Izzy Collis (40) gradually rebuilt the EWDP innings through a mixture of caution and occasional aggression. Both dealt harshly with the short ball both on the off-side and the leg-side and together they took the score to 109 for 4 when the players left the field for a short rain break. Unfortunately on their return Griffith immediately drove Sophie Mackenzie to extra cover to depart, and then Alli Kelly was lbw first ball to the left-arm seam of Aylish Cranstone. But Notts' Georgie Boyce proved to be another willing partner for Collis and together they added 54 for the sixth wicket before Collis became Rachael Petherick's first victim, caught and bowled on the drive. It was just reward for the left-arm spinner who bowled well on a pretty unresponsive pitch. Davies returned for the batting powerplay and conceded just four runs in two overs, and when Petherick accounted for Sophia Dunkley missing a favoured sweep shot, skipper Sophie Luff decided to try and finish the EWDP off. It was a tactic that worked perfectly. The hard-hitting Boyce (34) was run out after a mix up by a fine throw from deep cover by Maia Bouchier, and Petherick (3/28) then claimed her third, enticing Nalisha Patel to drive her to cover. Davies (4/34) finished off the innings when she had Bea Firth lbw in the 43rd over. The EWDP were all out for 184.

The EWA were gifted the ideal start with 26 off the first over as Katie George struggled to find her line. Unfortunately most of those runs came in extras. Thereafter Yorkshire's Bea Firth (2/27) and Tara Norris bowled tight lines and Norris was rewarded when Cranstone (5) was bowled in the fifth over. In the next Evelyn Jones chopped a short ball onto her stumps for a 19 ball duck, and the EWA were tottering on 32 for 2. Paige Scholfield came to join her skipper Luff at the crease and the pair initially made steady progress before Scholfield, playing her first game of the season, got her eye in and took a liking to Norris and Patel, hitting five 4s in the space of seven balls. It looked as though the EWDP were going to be heading for an eight wicket defeat, but Dunkley sneaked one past the advancing Luff (25), who was harshly adjudged to have been bowled amid a flurry of keeper's gloves and dropped ball. Bouchier then ran herself out attempting a suicidal single to mid-off and the EWDP sniffed an opportunity. Had Norris held on to a regulation catch at mid-on off Scholfield in the next over the game could have opened up, but it was not to be. Scholfield lost Rudd bowled by the returning hard-working Firth with 35 still needed, but then she and Davies guided the EWA towards a comfortable victory. With the finish line in sight Scholfield holed out to deep square leg for 75, but Davies (22*) rounded off a good day as she hit the winning runs in the 37th over.

full scorecard here

MD
2/V/15

EWA OD game stats v Shooting Stars

For those of you who like stats here are my unofficial stats from the four OD games played by the EWA against the Southern Stars.

Batting Stats

Bowling Stats

MD
09/IV/15

Elwiss & Wilson gunning for England places

England's so-called Academy team are three matches in to their six match series with the Aussie Shooting Stars out in Dubai and they find themselves 2-1 down, with one ODI and two T20s to come.

The three matches to date have all followed a fairly similar pattern. England have won the toss and batted first, scored about 260 thanks to major contributions with the bat from Georgia Elwiss and Fran Wilson, and the Aussies have chased them down on two occasions and fallen just short on the other.

Both contracted Elwiss and non-contracted Wilson have been in fine form. Elwiss has scored 100(81), 65(42) and 50(39). She has also taken 1/21, 3/46 and 1/22. Wilson has scored 57(60), 50(42), and 45(54). It is not only the fact that they have scored runs, but that they have scored them at a good pace (Elwiss in particular). The only other batsmen to have gone past 50 have been Tammy Beaumont 59(82) and Evelyn Jones 50(104), in an opening stand of 118 in the second game, which consumed nearly 30 overs.

With England's senior middle order still looking like their biggest problem, both Elwiss and Wilson must be in the frame to make it into the Ashes squad (or more likely squads) for the summer. If they are to make the final 11 then realistically they will have to displace one of the current incumbents - Lauren Winfield, Lydia Greenway, Nat Sciver or Jenny Gunn.

Winfield was promoted to number three in England's recent series against New Zealand. She made 3,14 and 29 in the three ODIs she played and 1 and 48 in two T20s. She was not convincing. She had apparently been hitting the ball well in the nets, but as we know, hitting it well in the nets and out in the middle are two very different things. She was then injured (quad muscle). She was due to go to Dubai with the Academy, but pulled out a week before when her injury failed to clear up. She will therefore have games for Yorkshire against Kent, Warwickshire, and Berkshire in May to prove she is fit and in form. She really needs to find some runs soon.

Greenway had an indifferent tour to New Zealand too. She struggled with the bat in the first few games and was dropped for the third ODI after scores of a scratchy 27 and 0. She came back into the side for the T20s and two great catches seemed to restore her confidence. She batted better after that but still only scored 18*, 25 and 23. She has only one score over 50 in her last 25 ODI innings (going back 3 years), and averages 26 over that period. England are unlikely to jettison her without more thought, but her outstanding fielding cannot be allowed to dictate her automatic selection.

Sciver came into the England set-up as a bowling all-rounder, but has developed into a stylish, but somewhat frustrating batsmen. She looks the part with the bat in her hand, but tends to find ways to get out. It is early days in her career and she has been described as "the future of England cricket". Her knock of 65* in the last game against New Zealand suggested that could be true, but her performances to date in Dubai (1, 11 and 23) leave something to be desired. It would be good to see her come to the party in Dubai in the next few days.

Gunn averages less than 20 with the bat in ODIs after 96 innings, but she does have the small matter of 115 ODI wickets to her name. She has fulfilled the "reliable second change bowler who can bat a bit" role for some time now. In fact there was a period in her England career when she batted in the top three. However those days seem to have long gone. In New Zealand she started the ODI series at 7, but was soon demoted to 10, behind Brunt, Marsh and Shrubsole. She looked out of sorts with the bat scoring 1, 5 and 1 in the first three games. She also only bowled 14.4 overs during the five match series taking no wickets. Early county form could again be a key indicator.

That is not to say that Elwiss and/or Wilson are the panacea to all England's middle-order batting woes. It is worth noting the standard of the opposition they are facing out in Dubai. Australia are clearly treating this tour as an experience for some of their younger players. The Shooting Stars have seven teenagers in their squad. In contrast England have just one (the centrally-contracted Tash Farrant at 18). Three of the ten Aussie bowlers used in the last OD game did not even bowl in the WNCL (senior state cricket in Australia) in 2014/15 - opener Lauren Cheatle (16), first-change Nicola Hancock (19) and off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner (17). There is also the fact that the wickets in Dubai are great to bat on, with little movement, even bounce and lightning outfields. Having said that Elwiss and Wilson have outshone both Sciver and Beaumont, who are playing in the same games, on the same wickets and against the same bowlers. They can do no more than that.

Certainly on the batting front both Elwiss's and Wilson's stock has risen at just the right time. It will be for the England management to decide if it has sufficient upside to require a significant investment.

MD
07/IV/15