da poker： English women’s cricket selectors have given youth its head in choosing the squad to take on Australia here this summer.
AAP21-May-2001English women’s cricket selectors have given youth its head inchoosing the squad to take on Australia here this summer.Selectors today named a 12-woman squad with an average age of just 23, andhave made no secret of the fact the forthcoming two-Test series and threeone-dayers represent the early stages of a long range plan.Coach Jane Powell spelled out that England’s main priority in selecting thesquad – which will be taken over by former Australia coach John Harmerafter this series – was not necessarily the forthcoming clash.”The aim now is to build a team capable of winning the next World Cup in2005 in line with the ECB commitment that England be in the World’s top twoby 2007,” she said.”The time is right to give our youngsters a taste of competitiveinternational cricket – and it doesn’t get any better than facing theAustralians”.England, coming off a disappointing fifth in the World Cup in New Zealand inDecember, has been dealt a severe blow by losing prolific 21-year-oldbatsman Charlotte Edwards for the summer due to a knee injury.But there are exciting youngsters in 17-year-old off-spinner Laura Harperand 19-year-old England A captain and opening bat Arran Thompson, who bothmade their senior international debuts against South Africa last summer.Despite the emphasis on youth, England has experience to draw on fromveteran wicketkeeper Jane Cassar and 36-year-old pace bowler Clare Taylor,both of whom were members of the World Cup-winning side in 1993.England and Australia commence their compact playing schedule with the firstTest on June 24 in Hertfordshire, near London. The three one-dayers willthen be played at Derbyshire, Northampton and Lord’s, with the second Testto begin at Headingley, Leeds, on July 6.The England squad, with caps (Tests and one-day) and ages, is:Clare Connor (Sussex, Capt) 53 caps, 24 years old; Clare Taylor (Yorks) 81,36; Caroline Atkins (Sussex) 0, 20; Jane Cassar (Notts) 73, 28; SarahCollyer (Lancs) 15, 20; Laura Harper (Somerset) 8, 17, Jackie Hawker(Somerset) 3, 20, Dawn Holden (Notts) 18, 20, Kate Lowe (Notts) 3, 25, LucyPearson (Staffs) 30, 29; Claire Taylor (Berks) 21, 25; Arran Thompson(Lancs) 12, 19.