England name 13-member women's squad for South Africa Test

The England women’s team has released a strong 13-player squad for the upcoming Test against South Africa, which commences next week. The English team will be without the services of veteran stalwarts Anya Shrubsole and Katherine Brunt after the pair announced their retirement from the longest format of the game. The selectors have drafted in five new faces in the squad, who will be looking to make their debut against South Africa.

Anya Shrubsole retired from all forms of international cricket earlier this year in April after a bitter defeat to rivals Australia in the ODI World Cup final. The fast bowler was joined in retirement by Katherine Brunt, who announced her retirement from red-ball cricket last week. But, the all-rounder will be available for the selection in the shorter formats of the game.

Head coach Lisa Keightley spoke on the opportunity for the young players as the management looks to identify key players for the upcoming ICC Women’s Championship cycle. Keightley also spoke about the vacant spots left in the Test squad due to the retirements of Shrubsole and Brunt, hoping that the youngsters will relish the opportunity to replace the former stalwarts.

“We’re at the beginning of a new ICC Women’s Championship cycle, which starts for us with the India ODIs, and, naturally, we’re looking forward with one eye on who may be a key player for us come 2025. Similarly with Katherine Brunt retired from Test cricket and Anya Shrubsole from all forms of the international game, several bowling spots have opened up which is hugely exciting for those players. I’m sure they’ll all be very keen to grab their opportunity,” Keightley revealed via ESPNcricinfo.

We need our players to play as much cricket as possible: Keightley said with the Commonwealth Games in mind

The Test match will be followed by a three-match ODI and three-match T20I series against the same opposition. In addition to the senior women’s squad, they also named an A squad for a three-day match against South Africa. Much like the aforementioned team, the A-side will also be featuring plenty of new faces as they have included nine players in the squad for the solitary fixture, who haven’t played at the international level yet.

“We have to balance having the appropriate back-up for the senior squad while also giving playing opportunities. We need our players to play as much cricket as possible, which is why we have a deliberately small Test squad while the England Women’s A team is in action against South Africa. It really is a massive summer, with the Commonwealth Games just around the corner, and we can’t wait to get started with the red ball in Taunton,” Keightley added.

England Women’s team: Heather Knight (C), Emily Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Kate Cross, Alice Davidson-Richards, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Amy Jones, Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver (VC), Issy Wong (reserve)

England Women A team: Georgia Elwiss (c), Maia Bouchier, Danni Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Freya Kemp, Eve Jones, Ella McCaughan, Kalea Moore, Tara Norris, Grace Potts, Grace Scrivens, Alexa Stonehouse, Mady Villiers, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt.