England women’s cricketers to depart for batting and spin bowling camp in Sri Lanka this Sunday (April 19).
England women’s vice-captain, Heather Knight, will lead a 12-strong group of players from across the England women’s cricket pathway in three one-day matches against a Sri Lanka Women’s “A” team on April 23, 26 and 29, as part of an intensive 12-day batting and spin bowling development camp in Colombo.
Injuries to Jodie Dibble (left shoulder), Amy Jones (right hamstring) and Laura Marsh (left hamstring) have ruled them out of taking part in the camp, which gets underway on Sunday (April 19). The trio have been replaced by Yorkshire’s Katherine Brunt, Georgia Elwiss (Sussex) and Alex McDonald (Gloucestershire).
The other nine players in the training group remain unchanged from the squad that was announced at the end of last month.
Having enjoyed a successful conversion to bowling off-spin over the last 18 months, Heather Knight returned career-best One Day International figures of 4-47 with her off-breaks during England women’s recent tour against New Zealand.
Speaking ahead of departing for Sri Lanka, Heather Knight said: “I’m really looking forward to the batting and spin bowling training camp in Colombo. From a personal perspective, as someone relatively new to slow bowling, there is no better place in the world than Sri Lanka to really immerse myself in the art of bowling spin. I am certain that I will learn a lot during the intensive 12-day period that we will spend out there, in addition to further developing my batting in difficult conditions on the subcontinent.”
“It is also a brilliant opportunity for some of the younger girls included in the group from across the England women’s cricket pathway to gain some experience of playing in tough, subcontinental conditions – especially with the ICC World Twenty20 taking place in India next year.”
“In the short-term the training camp will form a really important part in our preparation for this summer’s Women’s Ashes.”
The players will arrive in Colombo on Sunday (April 19) and will spend just under two weeks training under the guidance of England Women’s Assistant Coach, Carl Crowe and EWA Head Coach, Lisa Keightley.
England women’s cricketers to attend Sri Lanka batting and spin bowling training camp in full:
| Name | England women’s cricket pathway squad | County |
| Stephanie Butler | EWA | Staffordshire |
| Katherine Brunt | EWPS | Yorkshire |
| Sophie Ecclestone | EWDP U19 | Cheshire |
| Georgia Elwiss | EWPS | Sussex |
| Rebecca Grundy | EWPS | Warwickshire |
| Alex Hartley | EWA | Middlesex |
| Danielle Hazell | EWPS | Yorkshire |
| Heather Knight | EWPS | Berkshire |
| Emma Lamb | EWA | Lancashire |
| Alex McDonald | EWA | Gloucestershire |
| Lauren Winfield | EWPS | Yorkshire |
| Danielle Wyatt | EWPS | Nottinghamshire |
- England Women’s Performance Squad: EWPS
- England Women’s Academy: EWA
- England Women’s Development Programme Under-19s: EWDP U19
Fixture dates: all against Sri Lanka Women’s “A” team:
- Thursday April 23, Nondescripts Cricket Club, 50-overs
- Sunday April 26, Colts Cricket Club, 50-overs
- Wednesday April 29, Nondescripts Cricket Club, 50-overs
Pictured above Heather Knight bowling in New Zealand.
