Sarah Taylor rested for England’s tour of India
Sarah Taylor has been rested for England Women’s upcoming tour of India.
The wicket-keeper suffers from anxiety, and England head coach Mark Robinson says a break around this time to help manage the illness has been planned for a long time. “We always targeted this period as one where she can focus on her wellbeing in preparation for what will be a busy summer leading into the ICC World T20,” said Robinson.
Fast bowler Katherine Brunt is still recovering from a back injury sustained in the Women’s Big Bash League and also misses out, while off-spinner Laura Marsh, who played one ODI and the solitary Test match during the recent Ashes series, and opening batsman Lauren Winfield, who played all three ODIs and the Test against Australia, have also not been included.
Seam bowlers Kate Cross and Tash Farrant and batsman Amy Jones have all been recalled, with all three having last played for England in 2016. Cross’ inclusion is the most surprising, as the England selectors had appeared to have considered her a Test specialist.
Three uncapped players have received their first call-ups to the England senior squad: Katie George, a left-arm seamer, Alice Davidson-Richards, a seam-bowling all-rounder, and Bryony Smith, a hard-hitting opening batter.
All three received praise for their performances in the first two seasons of the Women’s Cricket Super League. Smith finished second on the list of run-scorers for non-internationals, Davidson-Richards was player of the match during Yorkshire Diamonds first game of the 2017 edition, scoring an unbeaten 22 and taking 3/20, while George has maintained an economy of just above six across both seasons. They have been on England’s radar for some time, each having been named in various academy and pathway squads.
“It’s hugely exciting to have three new faces in the group – and to welcome back a few others,” said Robinson. “Obviously that means a few have missed out but they can use the time to their advantage and come back more strongly.”
England’s tour will start with a T20 tri-series against Australia and India, before finishing with a three-match ODI series against the hosts. The ODI series won’t be part of the ICC Women’s Championship, which, among other things, helps determine who qualifies for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, and so allows England to experiment and blood some new faces.
“We’ve said for a long time that we need to play more games and it’s exciting that we’ve been able to arrange this very competitive series outside of the ICC Women’s Championship,” said Robinson. “It gives us a chance to see other players and measure their progress and that also means we can rest and rotate.”
**Squad:**Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont (wk), Kate Cross, Alice Davidson-Richards, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Katie George, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Amy Jones, Anya Shrubsole, Bryony Smith, Nat Sciver, Fran Wilson, Danni Wyatt
Schedule
22 March - 1st T20: India v Australia, Mumbai
23 March - 2nd T20: Australia v England, Mumbai
25 March - 3rd T20: India v England, Mumbai
26 March - 4th T20: India v Australia, Mumbai
28 March - 5th T20: Australia v England, Mumbai
29 March - 6th T20: India v England, Mumbai
31 March - Final: Mumbai
6 April - 1st ODI: India v England Nagpur
9 April - 2nd ODI: India v England, Nagpur
12 April - 3rd ODI: India v England, Nagpur