English women's cricket selectors have given youth its head in
choosing the squad to take on Australia here this summer.
Selectors today named a 12-woman squad with an average age of just 23, and
have made no secret of the fact the forthcoming two-Test series and three
one-dayers represent the early stages of a long range plan.
Coach Jane Powell spelled out that England's main priority in selecting the
squad - which will be taken over by former Australia coach John Harmer
after this series - was not necessarily the forthcoming clash.
"The aim now is to build a team capable of winning the next World Cup in
2005 in line with the ECB commitment that England be in the World's top two
by 2007," she said.
"The time is right to give our youngsters a taste of competitive
international cricket - and it doesn't get any better than facing the
Australians".
England, coming off a disappointing fifth in the World Cup in New Zealand in
December, has been dealt a severe blow by losing prolific 21-year-old
batsman Charlotte Edwards for the summer due to a knee injury.
But there are exciting youngsters in 17-year-old off-spinner Laura Harper
and 19-year-old England A captain and opening bat Arran Thompson, who both
made their senior international debuts against South Africa last summer.
Despite the emphasis on youth, England has experience to draw on from
veteran 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 first
Test on June 24 in Hertfordshire, near London. The three one-dayers will
then be played at Derbyshire, Northampton and Lord's, with the second Test
to 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; Sarah
Collyer (Lancs) 15, 20; Laura Harper (Somerset) 8, 17, Jackie Hawker
(Somerset) 3, 20, Dawn Holden (Notts) 18, 20, Kate Lowe (Notts) 3, 25, Lucy
Pearson (Staffs) 30, 29; Claire Taylor (Berks) 21, 25; Arran Thompson
(Lancs) 12, 19.