Wyatt’s eyeing a Day/Night Test bow

DANNI Wyatt has been part of the England women’s setup for seven years – and this winter she has set her sights on a long-awaited Test debut in the first-ever Day-Night Test in women’s cricket.

Now 26, Wyatt made her international bow when she was only 18 and has gone on to make more than 50 appearances in both oneday and T20 cricket.

She was part of England’s World Cup-winning squad this summer, playing in the first five games of the tournament, but has yet to make her Test bow.

And after some promising scores in last week’s Day-Night trial match being played in Essex, Wyatt is hopeful she may finally get her chance at Test level, having been named in the 15-player squad announced this week with the first game on October 22.

She said: “It’s been a nice change playing this game, we don’t get too much chance to play this format, I’ve only played three or four three-day games and a few warm-up matches. I’ve been 12th man for a couple of Tests but not played one yet.

“That would be great to play in the first Day-Night Test. I walked past the management having a selection meeting so that was a little nerve-wracking!

“Everyone is pretty relaxed though and just excited for the challenge.”

Wyatt made 30 and 37 in two knocks for England’s women, in a game being played against some other members of the extended squad, along with few men’s players from the Essex squad in the Day-Night fixture.

While Kate Cross and Amy Jones are in Australia, playing in Western Australia, the rest of the squad has been trying to get to grips with the challenges of pink ball cricket.

Wyatt added: “It’s the first time I’ve played with the pink ball and it nips off the seam more than the white ball. From my perspective, I’m known more as a T20 batter, but when it comes to the longer games I just have to get stuck in. I know that if I go in and just try to block it all day, it doesn’t work for me, so I still have to be positive.”

Australia, meanwhile,will be captained by Rachael Haynes in the absence of Meg Lanning, who will miss the whole Ashes series through injury.