Under-17 girls' tour squad named

The ECB has unveiled the Under-17 girls’ development squad for the tour of South Africa next month.

An intensive nine-day trip will see the newly-created age-group side play five matches against Lancashire U19s, Western Province U19s and Bristol Phoenix between March 31 and April 8.

Clare Connor, former England captain and now head of women’s cricket at the ECB, said: “The players have a wonderful opportunity ahead of them.

“This is the first time we have compiled an Under-17 development squad and, after a six-month block of winter training, it will be great to see them compete.

“It’s exciting to see the players desperate to get out there and perform and I’m sure that the hard work they have put in during winter training, both in the nets and in the gym, will pay dividends when it comes to a demanding itinerary.

“Many of these players could have a big future in the women’s game and this tour marks the start of that in terms of being named in an ECB squad.”

Squad

Georgia Adams (Sussex)
Thea Brookes (Worcestershire)
Amara Carr, wicketkeeper (Devon)
Deanna Cooper (Kent)
Aylish Cranstone (Hampshire)
Jodie Dibble (Devon)
Cordelia Griffith (Essex)
Alex Hartley (Lancashire)
Sophie Luff (Somerset)
Gwenan Mai Davies (Wales)
Lucy Maxwell (Warwickshire)
Lauren Parfitt (Wales)
Carla Rudd, wicketkeeper (Sussex)
Lizzie Russell (Warwickshire)
Dee Tress (Kent)

Fixtures

March 31
England U17 v Western Province U19, Frank Reid Field
Lancashire U19 v Bristol Phoenix, Oaks

April 1
Bristol Phoenix v Boland U19, Frank Reid Field
Lancashire U19 v Western Province U19, Oaks

April 3
Lancashire U19 v England U17, Frank Reid Field
Western Province U19 v Boland U19, Oaks

April 4
Lancashire U19 v Boland U19, Frank Reid Field
Bristol Phoenix v England U17, Oaks

April 6
Bristol Phoenix v Western Province, Frank Reid Field
Boland U19 v England U17, Oaks

April 8
Final, Frank Reid Field
Third/fourth-place play-off, Oaks