The England Women’s U19 team start their ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup journey on Sunday. Find out a bit more about the 15-strong group below.
GRACE SCRIVENS
AGE: 19, REGION: SUNRISERS, COUNTY: KENT, ROLE: LHB/OB, SQUAD NUMBER: 29
At just 17 Grace Scrivens was already giving demonstration of her talent for Sunrisers in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. A stylish opening batter, and a rare left-handed player in the women's game in England, Scrivens also bowls off-spin. A genuine all-rounder, she was the leading wicket-taker in last year’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. She's played for two years in The Hundred, was called up to England Women A last summer and has shone at regional level - ending last season with a brace of half-centuries. She also made a sprightly 53 from just 29 balls in her team’s second warm-up game in South Africa. The captain of this team – a competitive and driven individual, who leads by example and sets the standards across the group – Scrivens will hope to be the first ever woman to lift the ICC Women's U19 Cricket World Cup.
ELLIE ANDERSON
AGE: 19, REGION: CENTRAL SPARKS, COUNTY: WORCESTERSHIRE, ROLE: RMF/RHB, SQUAD NUMBER: 45
If your surname is Anderson, you’re English and you bowl right-arm seam it’s only right that your nickname’s Jimmy, and that’s the case for Worcestershire academy product Ellie Anderson. Unlike her counterpart in the men’s senior team, Ellie is an all-rounder and not solely a seamer. Anderson, who extracts a fair amount of bounce and shapes it away from the right-hander, is yet to make her bow for Central Sparks senior team. She lists her first five-fer – against The Blaze Academy – as her career highlight to date. She took the opening wicket in the second warm-up game, against Indonesia, and possesses the ability to strike the ball well in the lower order.
HANNAH BAKER
AGE: 18, REGION: CENTRAL SPARKS, COUNTY: WORCESTERSHIRE, ROLE: LB/RHB, SQUAD NUMBER: 3
An enthusiastic and combative leggie who gives it a rip and loves to challenge the batter. Not afraid to give the ball some flight, but bowls at a pace that’s always challenging. Also, look out for the patented ‘Baker Bombs’ when she’s got the bat in hand. She may not be the largest presence at the crease but she’s able to clear the boundaries in the lower order – and she does list Welsh Fire teammate Alex Hartley as the international bowler she’d most like to hit for six! The Worcestershire and Central Sparks bowler has already made an impression in The Hundred, for Welsh Fire, and also took the wicket of Sophie Devine in an England Women A fixture last summer, clean-bowled. Also shares a squad number with fellow Midland leg-spinner Sarah Glenn
Sarah Glenn on Hannah Baker: “I love how she has the perfect balance of being driven enough to keep pushing herself but at the same time having a super chilled approach to it. She’s difficult to face and can be really fiery, and even when things don’t go her way she always has a cheeky smile on her face, which I think is special about her.”
JOSIE GROVES
AGE: 18, REGION: THE BLAZE, COUNTY: NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, ROLE: RHB/LB, SQUAD NUMBER: 23
Josie Groves, a leg-spinning all-rounder from Northamptonshire and The Blaze - is a dual international, as she’s also part of the Roses academy in the world of England Netball. It may be some of her netball agility that has helped her to become a top-class fielder. She states her desire to become the best fielder in the world. Slightly taller than fellow leg-spinner Hannah Baker, she gets a bit more bounce, and is a clean striker of the ball in the middle order.
LIBERTY HEAP
AGE: 19, REGION: THUNDER, COUNTY: LANCASHIRE, ROLE: RHB/OB, SQUAD NUMBER: 1
Libby Heap is a powerful striker of the ball at the top of the order, providing X-Factor and intent to help get an innings off to a bang. The Burnley-born opener came down the track to hit the first ball of England’s reply against West Indies in the first warm-up game in South Africa for four to set the tone in a nine-wicket win. Can also bowl off-spin. Her style of play means she lists T20 as the format of the game she most enjoys playing, and Heap – who has played for Thunder in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy but is yet to make her Charlotte Edwards Cup debut - says that England Men’s Test captain Ben Stokes is the player to whom she would most liken her style, because of “his high strike-rate and how he always plays very aggressively”. Struck an 18-ball 36 against Western Storm in the RHF Trophy in September.
Kate Cross on Liberty Heap: “Lib is such a hard worker, she always has been from a young age. She sets herself goals and doesn’t stop until she achieves them. I dread to think how many hours she spent hitting balls over the years but it goes to show her dedication and commitment to bettering herself as a cricketer.”
NIAMH HOLLAND
AGE: 18, REGION: WESTERN STORM, COUNTY: SOMERSET, ROLE: RHB/RMF, SQUAD NUMBER: 27
An all-rounder from Somerset who packs a punch. Niamh Holland has the rare distinction of having been involved in an England Women’s Test match, as she was one of Heather Knight’s team’s three substitute fielders for their drawn match against South Africa at Taunton in the summer of 2022. A medium-pace bowler who’s consistent, determined, gritty and bowls stump to stump – she likens her style most to Nat Sciver.
Fran Wilson on Niamh Holland: “Niamh is someone you want on your team, she is a competitor who always puts her hand up when things get tight or tough. She’s a real team player who brings so much on and off the field. She hits every part of the ground with the bat, nightmare for bowlers! She can control the game with the ball and is tactically switched on.”
RYANA MACDONALD-GAY
AGE: 18, REGION: SOUTH EAST STARS, COUNTY: KENT, ROLE: RMF/RHB, SQUAD NUMBER: 5
Like Josie Groves, a dual international, but this time in hockey, having represented England Women at U16, U18 and U21 level. A name known to many due to her exploits in The Hundred, Ryana Macdonald-Gay – who will be vice-captain for the Women’s U19 T20 World Cup – is a seam-bowling all-rounder from Kent who plays her regional cricket for South East Stars. She’s a skilful bowler, who swings the ball away from the right-handed batter. She’s got variations, and she’s calm and collected at the death. A middle-order batter, expect her to be involved in the crunch moments. Featured for an ECB Select XI this summer against India and had a day for the ages, taking 6-18, including a hat-trick.
Alice Davidson-Richards on Ryana Macdonald-Gay: “RMG is one hell of a human. She’s someone who always want to be bowling in the tricky situations. Plus, she’s absolutely rapid across the field. However, she has absolutely no idea how to brake when it comes to running twos.”
EMMA MARLOW
AGE: 18, REGION: NORTHERN DIAMONDS, COUNTY: YORKSHIRE, ROLE: OB/RHB, SQUAD NUMBER: 7
A competitive and fiery off-spinner who’s already made her mark in regional cricket, taking seven wickets in her first year of 50-over senior cricket to help drive Northern Diamonds to the Rachael Heyhoe Flint trophy at Lord’s. She also chipped in with seven in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, often with the new ball. The 18-year-old is not without ability or style as a lower-order batter, either. Marlow lists Mark Wood as her favourite cricketer, because of his attitude and his passion.
Lauren Winfield-Hill on Emma Marlow: “Marlow is madly competitive. She holds really high standards for herself and she’s very driven. I give her banter saying she's grumpy but she's a real grafter and she works really hard. She’s taken to senior cricket like a duck to water, especially taking the new ball in the powerplay in T20s. She’s taken that in her stride and taken some really important wickets for us.”
CHARIS PAVELY
AGE: 18, REGION: CENTRAL SPARKS, COUNTY: WORCESTERSHIRE, ROLE: LHB/SLA, SQUAD NUMBER: 28
A left-handed middle-order batter and burgeoning slow left-arm bowler, Charis Pavely is a teammate of Ellie Anderson’s from Worcestershire and also a Central Sparks player – though she awaits her senior debut at regional level. Pavely says her hopes for South Africa are: “To have fun, to meet new people and hopefully leave the kids over there with a positive experience of cricket and leave some of the passion we have for the sport over with them.”
DAVINA PERRIN
AGE: 16, REGION: CENTRAL SPARKS, COUNTY: STAFFORDSHIRE, ROLE: RHM/RM/LB, SQUAD NUMBER: 8
A precociously talented 16-year-old, Davina Perrin is the youngest member of England’s squad. The top-order batter has already earned herself a contract in The Hundred, and is the youngest-ever woman to hold a professional contract in women’s cricket in England. A graduate of the ACE Programme, Perrin will get a second shot at an U19 World Cup in 2025, but expect her to feature throughout the competition in South Africa. Primarily a talented right-hander batter, Staffordshire’s Perrin is able to bowl seam-up of leg-spin, but looks set to offer a seam option in this competition given England’s reserves of spin-bowling talent. Perrin lists Sir Viv Richards and Brian Lara as two of her favourite cricketers, citing both players’ flair with the bat in hand as one of the reasons why she looks up to them.
LIZZIE SCOTT
AGE: 19, REGION: NORTHERN DIAMONDS, COUNTY: NORTH EAST WARRIORS (NORTHUMBERLAND & DURHAM), ROLE: RMF/RHB, SQUAD NUMBER: 26
Like Anya Shrubsole and Lauren Bell, Lizzie Scott is a right-arm seamer who tends to bring the ball back into the right-handed batter. Blessed with a bit of pace, Scott is likely to open the bowling for England throughout the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup. Impressed for Northern Diamonds across the 2022 season. Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, it’s no surprise that Scott looks up to Mark Wood, and her route into cricket is one that demonstrates the power of positive role-models. She says, “My mum started up a women’s cricket team at Corbridge Cricket Club with a group of mums. All of the daughters would run around playing all sorts of games and steal the leftovers of the cricket teas. Eventually we created a girls’ team at the club.” Expect Corbridge CC to be a busy clubhouse throughout this World Cup. Scott, like many of her bowling teammates, is also a handy striker of the ball in the lower order.
Lauren Winfield-Hill on Lizzie Scott: “Lizzie is a different character to Marlow, but they’re both brilliant people who you want on your side. She’s a bubbly Geordie lass with great energy. She’s an unbelievable athlete and as a bowler – as we’ve seen, especially towards the back-end of the season – she’s really gifted. She’s a genuine wicket-taker, some of the dismissals she took towards the end of last season were with incredible deliveries.”
SEREN SMALE
AGE: 18, REGION: THUNDER, COUNTY: LANCASHIRE, ROLE: RHB/WK, SQUAD NUMBER: 47
A high-class opening batter, adding the technical nous to Libby Heap’s power and intent, Seren Smale is the first of two Welsh-born Smales in the squad – though there’s no relation. Wrexham-born Smale is also a wicketkeeper, and will compete with Maddie Ward for the gloves. Made her Thunder debut in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy in 2021, and ended the 2022 summer with her first senior half-century, against Western Storm. Comes from sporting stock with her grandmother having played hockey for Wales, and her great grandfather having played football for Wales. Puts her journey into cricket down to her grandfather: “I started playing when I was 12. I walked into my nan and taid’s lounge and I saw it on TV. I said I wanted to give that a go, so that day my taid took me down to the nets.” Also, the leader of the tunes on the bus.
SOPHIA SMALE
AGE: 18, REGION: WESTERN STORM, COUNTY: WALES, ROLE: SLA/RHB, SQUAD NUMBER: 16
Like her compatriot and namesake, Sophia Smale puts much of her cricket ability and know-how down to her grandfather. The man himself even appeared live on the BBC in the summer of 2022 as his slow left-arm spinning granddaughter made a name for herself with her control and wickt-taking ability for Oval Invincibles in The Hundred. Another of the squad who’s a dual international, having played age-group international hockey for Wales, 18-year-old Smale is consistent and competitive bowler who lists Joe Root as her favourite cricketer of all-time. She is a driven individual who can already point to The Hundred trophy in her cabinet, and like many of her teammates, is no mug with the bat in hand.
ALEXA STONEHOUSE
AGE: 18, REGION: SOUTH EAST STARS, COUNTY: KENT, ROLE: LMF/RHB, SQUAD NUMBER: 77
A powerful left-arm seamer who swings the ball into the right-armers, much like her fellow Kent and South East Stars teammate Tash Farrant. Always an important point of difference, Stonehouse’s left-arm skillset is developing – with her ability to bowl round the wicket and her slower ball both improving. Earned herself a contract in The Hundred with Trent Rockets, and was called up to both England Women A and the ECB Select XI in 2022. Again, a more than useful batter, Stonehouse has scored centuries for Kent Under 18s. Lists Ben Stokes and Sam Curran as two of her favourite players in the cricket.
MADDIE WARD
AGE: 17, REGION: THE BLAZE, COUNTY: NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, ROLE: WK/RHB, SQUAD NUMBER: 19
The second-youngest member of the squad, Maddie Ward is a high-class wicketkeeper who will compete with Seren Smale for the gloves. Her breakout innings came in the School Games, scoring 68 not out from 52 balls to help Team Sciver through to the final. Came through Welbeck CC and names both Sarah Taylor and Ben Foakes as two cricketers she looks up to.
England Women U19 World Cup Fixtures
All group games will be available to watch on icc.tv, Sky Sports will show the semi-final and final.
Sunday January 15: England Women U19 v Zimbabwe Women U19, 1.45pm
Tuesday January 17: England Women U19 v Pakistan Women U19, 1.45pm
Thursday January 19: England Women U19 v Rwanda Women U19, 10am
Saturday January 21-Wednesday January 25: Super Six League (The top three teams from Group A versus the top three teams in Group D; Group B v Group C)
Friday January 27: ICC Women's U19 World Cup Semi-Finals, 10am & 1.45pm
Sunday January 29: ICC Women's U19 World Cup Final, 1.45pm