This is the squad of thirteen for the Madrid 7s: Abbie Brown (captain), Lauren Torley, Emma Uren, Isla Norman-Bell, Megan Jones, Jasmine Joyce, Amy Wilson Hardy, Ellie Boatman, Ellie Kildunne, Rhona Lloyd, Kayleigh Powell, Jade Shekels, Heather Cowell. You can take your pick of the biggest news, but here’s mine: Abbie Brown returns from injury
A few hours after the test match in Auckland, we were transported to North London for another game that was a test match in all but name. As you watched this top-table clash, you had to wonder how either side might have got on if they’d been in North Harbour too. Could G-H have beaten
Australia v New Zealand – The Decider Part of the Black Ferns’ thinking after losses to France, England and Canada was to restore the fear effect, the sense of inevitable victory that used to overhang every test they competed in. Their loss to Canada was a pivotal moment in the unfolding of the Pacific Four
England v Pakistan – First ODI It’s the fashion to fasten on to a new national head coach and add “-ball” to whatever strategy he claims to be pursuing. So after “Baz-ball” we now have “Jon-ball”, but it’s difficult to decipher exactly what that entails. When England players claim it means an aggressive approach, we
New Zealand v Australia Last year everything was new and experimental. Now the WXV is more familiar, and the consequences of failure more dramatic. In the last game of the Pacific Four Series Australia have to beat New Zealand for the first time in order to avoid an unwanted drop into WXV2. The odds are
England’s ODIs about to begin Once more it’s Heather Knight who previews England’s chances as they prepare to take on Pakistan in the first of three ODI’s. It is she, not the head coach, Jon Lewis, who maps out her team’s approach to switching from three unbeaten T20s to three ODIs. The batters need more
It was a great pity that the auld enemy, rain, brought an early end to another game, this time an ODI, at Northampton. Now it was England’s so-called ‘Development‘ side playing the tourists. The fascination for fans was to see the XI Jon Lewis selected, after leaving so many of his T20 squad unemployed. This
This was an unusual round – three Sunday games, and only one on Saturday. But it marked a turning-point in the 2023-24 season. Gloucester-Hartpury claimed an unbeatable first place after demolishing Trailfinders. The other Sunday games also showed big wins; the one shock being a heavy defeat at home for Chiefs, Sarries’ first ever win
England v Pakistan – 3rd T20 Jon Lewis made only one change, resting Lauren Bell and introducing Lauren Filer to form the only fast bowling option in the team. That leaves us wondering who he sees replacing Amy Jones with the gloves, when the need arises. Danni Wyatt made it clear why selectors have gone
New Zealand v Canada Canada beat the Black Ferns for the first time in eighteen attempts, and away from home. With that they captured the Pacific Four Trophy, secured their third place in world rankings and retained the Utrecht Shield (check that out if it’s new to you). A final margin of three points seemed
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