England women
Who’s off to Sri Lanka to try to secure a World Cup spot?
FRAN Wilson is set to make a return to England’s 50-over team, six years after her last appearance, after being included in England Women’s touring party to face Sri Lanka next month.
Wilson, 24, played two matches against Sri Lanka in 2010 and will now go back to the same country as England play their final three Women’s Championship fixtures.
They will actually play four matches with only the final three forming England’s seventh and final round of matches in the Women’s Championship. All matches will take place in Colombo from November 9, with the first Championship game on November 12.
Wilson has earned her place in the squad after impressing with a match-winning 43 not out against Pakistan in a T20I this summer. She has also made a number of strong performances in domestic cricket for Middlesex and Western Storm.
Teenager Sophie Ecclestone is unavailable for selection to tour Sri Lanka due to school commitments while bowler Anya Shrubsole misses out as she continues to recover from the neck injury that forced her to return from Jamaica earlier this month.
Heather Knight will again lead the team as captain as England search for the one win needed to secure one of the four automatic qualification spots for next summer’s Women’s World Cup on home soil.
Prior to arriving in Colombo, the squad will take part in a sixday training camp in Abu Dhabi alongside members of the England Women’s Senior Academy, from November 1-7, to help them acclimatise for the four-match series. Overall, 23 players will travel to the UAE for the preparation camp.
England women’s head coach, Mark Robinson, said: “We have initially selected a squad of 14 for the four-match series in Colombo next month, with the 15th player due to be confirmed following our preparation camp in Abu Dhabi, which will involve a wider group of 23 players.
“The involvement of some of our younger players in the training camp in the UAE presents a fantastic opportunity for their development, and gives us an excellent chance to continue to develop the depth of the talent pool underneath the England women’s squad.
“Fran Wilson gives us another option with the bat, is a strong, athletic fielder, and had an impressive domestic summer. It is disappointing that Anya Shrubsole is still sidelined through injury, but in Beth Langston we have an exciting fresh face who is ready to be unleashed on the international game.
“Sophie Ecclestone showed a huge amount of promise in the two matches she played in the Caribbean and she will be involved with the preparation camp in Abu Dhabi before heading back to school.”