Two new faces for England’s women

UNCAPPED duo of Sophie Ecclestone and Beth Langston have both been included in England women’s touring party for the five-match ODI series against the West Indies.

Spinner Eccleston, 17, and seamer Langston will both travel to Jamaica next month with a squad captained by Heather Knight.

Langston, 24, had previously been ruled out of taking part in the three-week tour after breaking her left thumb during a training match earlier this month. Her rehab programme has progressed quicker than anticipated though and this will be the first time she has been a part of an England dressing room since making her Twenty20 International debut, also in the West Indies, three years ago.

The tour, played in Jamaica on October 8-19, represents Knight’s first overseas challenge as captain following a record-breaking summer against Pakistan, although Fran Wilson has been ruled out after breaking her left little finger in training last week.

Head coach, Mark Robinson, said: “We have done a lot of soul searching and worked incredibly hard since the Women’s World T20 at the start of this year. This tour to the West Indies will give us a good idea of how far we have come. The heat of Jamaica and the ability of the West Indies team will test our skills, fitness and mental strength. Everyone is hugely excited by the challenge ahead.

“The unfortunate news of losing Fran Wilson with a broken finger at the end of last week has been tempered by the news that Beth Langston’s broken thumb is healing more quickly than expected, and she should be able to play a full part in the second half of the tour. Beth is bowling with good pace at the moment, and will give us another dimension.

“Sophie Ecclestone’s inclusion is a reward for all the promise she showed against Pakistan this summer. Fellow left-arm spinner Alex Hartley had a fantastic Kia Super League for Surrey Stars, and along with the two off-spinners – Laura Marsh and Danielle Hazell. They give the bowling attack lots of options and balance.”

Squad: Heather Knight (capt), Anya Shrubsole (vicecapt), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Amy Jones (wk), Beth Langston, Laura Marsh, Natalie Sciver, Lauren Winfield, Danielle Wyatt.