England women reveal Australia party

England women’s selectors today named a 15-player squad to defend the Ashes on the tour of Australia in January.

Pace bowler Katherine Brunt will return to the squad following a period of strength and conditioning, as will left-arm spinner Holly Colvin after a busy three months of university studies. England stalwart Beth Morgan will also re-join the squad as they head Down Under looking to retain their Ashes crown.

England Women’s Academy graduates Susie Rowe and Fran Wilson have secured a place in the squad after both demonstrated their skills to selectors on the recent tour of Sri Lanka.

England will play three one-day internationals, a five-match Twenty20 international series and a four-day Test for the women’s Ashes from January 5 to 25.

The first and second Twenty20 matches will be played directly before England men play Australia on January 12 and 14, at the Adelaide Oval and the MCG respectively. Both of these matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Clare Connor, head of England Women’s Cricket, said: “After an unbeaten tour to Sri Lanka, the selectors have made a few adjustments to the squad that will travel to Australia.

“The recent Sri Lanka tour successfully exposed some of our recent Academy graduates to international cricket, all of whom took their opportunities with Susie Rowe and Fran Wilson retaining their spots for the tour to Australia.

“Every cricketer dreams of a tour to Australia and I am confident that this squad will return with many successes to speak of, most notably with the Ashes retained.”

England women’s squad

Charlotte Edwards (captain, Kent)
Katherine Brunt (Yorkshire)
Holly Colvin (Sussex)
Jenny Gunn (vice-captain, Nottinghamshire)
Lydia Greenway (Kent)
Lauran Griffiths (Cheshire)
Isa Guha (Berkshire)
Danielle Hazell (Yorkshire)
Heather Knight (Berkshire)
Laura Marsh (Sussex)
Beth Morgan (Middlesex)
Susie Rowe (Kent)
Claire Taylor (Berkshire)
Fran Wilson (Somerset)
Danielle Wyatt (Staffordshire)

One-day international series

Wednesday 5 January: 1st ODI, Perth, 10.00am
Friday 7 January: 2nd ODI, Perth, 2.30pm
Sunday 9 January: 3rd ODI, Perth, 10.00am

Twenty20 international series

Wednesday 12 January: 1st T20, Adelaide Oval*, 2.00pm
Friday 14 January: 2nd T20, Melbourne MCG*, 2.35pm
Sunday 16 January: 3rd T20, Canberra, 12.05pm
Monday 17 January: 4th T20, Canberra, 3.05pm
Tuesday 18 January: 5th T20, Canberra, 3.05pm