Loughborough Lightning confirm four England stars

Captain Georgia Elwiss led the side to the finals by topping the league table but they were outplayed by Surrey Stars. The talented all-rounder spent winter with Melbourne Stars in the Women's Big Bash League in Australia and had a successful ODI series in India.



Wicket-keeper and opening batter Amy Jones has also been retained by Lightning. Jones is in terrific form of late where she had four consecutive half centuries in ODIs and a personal great county season in which she scored 101* against Surrey, 89 and 67 against Nottingham and Kent respectively.



England stalwart Jenny Gunn also returns to Lightning for her second season after a long absence from the game. She had a successful county season for Notts where she finished the season with 8 wickets in 6 matches.



Current Loughborough student and chair of the highly successful Loughborough Students offer Kirstie Gordon will also make a warm return to Lightning. Gordon got her England international break through off the back of a highly successful county and KSL 2018 season, taking the most wickets in both formats of the game.



Head coach Rob Taylor said about his England signings: "It is great to have our four England girls back again this year. The continuity amongst our senior players is key for us and they are all invested in Loughborough doing well in the KSL. All of them had great summers for us last year and we have a nice blend of experience and youthful talent within our allocation. They all know what we are trying to achieve at Loughborough, and they are the right people to be involved in achieving that. It is obviously a shame to lose Linsey Smith, but that gives someone else an opportunity to stand up and perform in this environment."



Lightning’s first game of the KSL season is agaisnt Western Storm on Tuesday 6 August at Haslegrave Cricket Ground.



(Inputs from Hannah Thompson)