England have named Western Storm duo Danielle Gibson and Lauren Filer in a 15-person squad for the Women’s Ashes Test against Australia, which begins next week.
Allrounder Gibson was the Storm’s joint top scorer and wicket-taking leader in this season’s Charlotte Edwards Cup and was a roving reserve for the Women’s T20 World Cup in February. Filer, who previously represented the England Academy, has been a mainstay of the Storm’s past two seasons. She bolsters England’s seam bowling options who were also without withdrawing Katherine Sciver-Brunt during the Test draw against South Africa in Taunton a year ago.
With both in line to win caps for the first time, England named a predictable squad that includes the XI that turned up against South Africa, where Issy Wong and Lauren Bell made their international debuts as Sciver-Brunt’s successor.
Emma Lamb and Tammy Beaumont, who started in that match and have shown a good touch in domestic cricket so far this season, were named in the squad, while Danni Wyatt, the leading run-scorer in the Charlotte Edwards Cup this year, and Alice Capsey, who had a great year in 2022, has the opportunity to make his Test debut after being called up to the team.
Kate Cross, England’s most experienced red-ball bowler, was also selected despite suffering from a tropical disease during the first weeks of the season.
The Test team will play Australia A in a three-day warm-up match at Derby from this Thursday before the five-day Test at Trent Bridge from June 22. It will be England Women’s first Test over five days on home soil and their first visit to Trent Bridge since 2000. After the Test, which is worth four points in the multi-format Ashes series, the teams will play three ODIs and three two-point T20Is each.
Jon Lewis, England Women’s head coach, described the Test team as “well balanced” amidst a rapidly growing pool of talent from across the country.
dani [Gibson] She is one of the most in-form cricketers in the country, she is improving with both bat and ball and, if selected in the squad, offers us a dynamic cricketer who can change the momentum of the game,” Lewis said. “Lauren is a genuine wicket-taking threat with good pace and swing. If she is selected in the playing XI, she offers us a point difference in our bowling attack that could affect a Test match at any point in the game.”
Lauren Winfield-Hill will captain the England A team to face the Australia women’s senior team in a three-day warm-up in Leicester this week. She enjoyed fine domestic form throughout 2022 and after leaving England midway through the Over 50 World Cup earlier that year. She returned to the England fold during the winter tour of the Caribbean and has again performed well in regional competitions so far in 2023, having lost her contract with Central England for the current season.
Alice Davidson-Richards and Wyatt will play for England A in the warm-up match and will also be part of the Test squad. Grace Scrivens, the England Under-19 captain who led her country to the age group T20 World Cup final in South Africa earlier this year, was also named in the A side. A squad has yet to be announced. from England A for the T20 and 50-over series against their Australian counterparts.
England Women’s Test Team: Heather Knight (capt), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Alice Davidson-Richards, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Amy Jones, Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Issy Wong, Danni wyatt
England Women’s A Squad for warm-up against Australia: Lauren Winfield-Hill (capt), Maia Bouchier, Alice Davidson-Richards, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, Kirstie Gordon, Eva Gray, Bess Heath, Eve Jones, Paige Scholfield, Grace Scrivens, Danni Wyatt
