Rainford-Brent makes Surrey cut

Ebony Rainford-Brent will work on her game alongside Surrey's distinguished coaches at the Academy next year

England women's batsmen Ebony Rainford-Brent is among six new players named in Surrey’s Academy intake next year.

Rainford-Brent, who was part of the squad that won the World Cup, the World Twenty20 and retained the Ashes this year, joins Zafar Ansari, Matthew Dunn, George Edwards, Shaun Cousens and Freddie Vanden Burgh.

For the first time, from the start of this year’s winter training programme, the academy will be fully integrated with Surrey’s professional programme.

As such, former England and Surrey stars Graham Thorpe, Alec Stewart, Chris Adams, Ian Salisbury and Martin Bicknell will coach the new intake.

Academy director Gareth Townsend said: “These six players have consistently demonstrated the right attitude to successfully develop their career all the way to the top.

“The Academy is the highest level of the programme they have been working on since a young age and they should be highly commended for achieving selection.

“All of them now need to continue their hard work and ensure they benefit from the unique opportunities afforded by working with some legends of the game and being around the professional squad on a regular basis.”

Gus Mackay, Surrey managing director, added: “We are proud to announce this squad, who we see as the future of Surrey. It is important that we continue to develop homegrown talent as we work on rebuilding the club.

“This is one of the most important group of players we have here and hopefully with the changes we have made within Surrey over the last twelve months, they can now see a much clearer pathway to becoming professional cricketers.”