England look to blood new players at the start of a busy year

There is an element of change within the England squad for their tri-series against India and Australia this month. Sarah Taylor is rested as is Katherine Brunt who is out with a back injury. With the busy schedule ahead this year and a World T20 to wrap up the year in the West Indies, there are new faces. Alice Davidson-Richards, Bryony Smith and Katie George, have been called up for their first taste of full international duty.



 



There are also recalls for Tash Farrant, Kate Cross and Amy Jones. It does mean that Georgia Elwiss, Lauren Winfield and Laura Marsh have not been included in the squad.



 



Mark Robinson said at the press conference today at Loughborough “we have been desperate to play more games outside of the points, as such, to give experience to new players.” He went on to add that “we don’t play enough as a team, and this is a brilliant opportunity.” With an increasing international calendar, it has been highlighted that the talent pool needs to be widened and Robinson emphasized that “we have picked some of the youngsters to wake a few people up because what we are doing now isn’t going to win you a World Cup and we have to change that.” Bryony Smith is a player that has been on Robinson’s radar for a couple of years with the advent of the Kia Super League and shows that the pathways open to players is expanding. Smith has ambitions of opening the batting for England and will give the likes of Tammy Beaumont, Danni Wyatt and Lauren Winfield a tough fight. Winfield is “going through a technical change” Robinson confirmed.



 



Katie George is another player who has impressed Robinson with her Kia Super League performances and he highlighted the final when she “raced in and bowled quick. Geroge will be one of two left-arm seamers in the squad along with the recalled Farrant.



 



Davidson-Richards brings “power down the order”, she is a likable player who was Kent’s player of the year last year and has taken opportunities again in the Kia Super League.



 



When it came to the resting of Taylor, Robinson said that “that from a long way out was to give this window back to Sarah as a person, as much as anything, it also creates a perfect opportunity for Amy Jones and the likes to get exposure.”



 



The message is clear, England and Robinson mean business and there is no place for complacency, which should make for an exciting series that takes place later this month.



 



England squad for the tour of India:



Heather Knight (Berkshire), Tammy Beaumont (Kent), Kate Cross (Lancashire), Alice Davidson-Richards (Kent), Sophie Ecclestone (Lancashire), Tash Farrant (Kent), Katie George (Hampshire), Jenny Gunn (Warwickshire), Alex Hartley (Lancashire), Danielle Hazell (Yorkshire), Amy Jones (Warwickshire), Nat Sciver (Surrey), Anya Shrubsole (Somerset), Bryony Smith (Surrey), Fran Wilson (Middlesex), Danni Wyatt (Sussex)