England name 13-member squad for one-off Women’s Test against South Africa, five new faces
India Today
England have named as many as five potential debutants for the one-off Test to be held from Monday, June 27 at The Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton.
England Women have named a new-look 13-member squad for their only Test against South Africa to be played from Monday, June 27 at The Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton. Emma Lamb, Alice-Davidson Richards, Lauren Bell, Emily Arlott and Freya Davies are the uncapped players who have been included in the squad.
England, led by Heather Knight, are currently in a transition phase after the retirements of Anya Shrubsole and Katherine Brunt. While Shrubsole had bid adieu to international cricket back in April, Brunt, earlier this month, called it a day from Test cricket.
20-year-old fast bowling all-rounder Issy Wong has been included as a travelling reserve. Danielle Wyatt, who is yet to play a Test match, has been named in the England A squad, captained by Georgia Elwiss.
England Women's head coach, Lisa Keightley, hoped that the new players would inject "energy and enthusiasm" into the Test squad.
"We're at the beginning of a new ICC Women's Championship cycle, which starts for us with the India ODIs [in September], and it's natural that we're looking forward with one eye on who may be a key player for us come 2025," Keightley was quoted as saying.
"Similarly, with Katherine Brunt retired from Test cricket and Anya Shrubsole from all forms of the international game, a number of bowling spots have opened up, which is hugely exciting for those players. I'm sure they'll all be very keen to grab their opportunity,” she stated.
"We have to balance having the appropriate back-up for the senior squad while also giving playing opportunities. We need our players to play as much cricket as possible, which is why we have a deliberately small Test squad while the England Women's A team are in action against South Africa.
