Nottinghamshire’s Jenny Gunn and Danielle Wyatt have been awarded for their performances over the past summer with central contracts for 2016-17.
Wyatt is currently in Australia playing in the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League for the Melbourne Renegades having been an integral part of England Women’s T20 side since her debut in 2010.
The pair are part of a group of 19 that are centrally contracted to the national side, with Middlesex’s Fran Wilson the only addition to the list of players that were first formed back in 2014.
“It’s always great news to get an England central contract, to know you’re in the team’s plans for the year coming up and to see your name in the list alongside great players,” said Wyatt.
“There are exciting times ahead for women’s cricket in England and 2016 is set to be a big year for us as an international side.
“There’s a South Africa tour in February, the World T20 in March and a summer of cricket against Pakistan to look forward to, then next winter it’s Sri Lanka and the West Indies - so lots of opportunities for us to make progress as a team.
“Before that, a number us are playing against the best players in the world in the Big Bash, which can only be a good thing.
“After the disappointment of losing the Ashes, we’re all aiming for a big improvement building towards the next World Cup in 2019.
“It’s a big squad, we’re all really keen to impress the new coach and there will be a lot of competition for places, which will hopefully drive us all to better performances.”
Gunn starred with both bat and ball for Nottinghamshire and England across the summer of 2015 and will be one of the most capped players on the next tour, to South Africa in February of next year.
“The women’s game continues to develop and move forward at an extraordinary pace and today’s announcement confirms professional cricket to be an attractive career choice for talented female athletes,” ECB’s Director of England Women’s Cricket Clare Connor said.
“Next year will be the busiest ever 12 months for England women under newly appointed Head Coach, Mark Robinson, with overseas tours to South Africa, West Indies and Sri Lanka, the ICC World Twenty20 in India, plus a home series against Pakistan. The awarding of central contracts ensures that the squad will be as best prepared and supported as possible for each of those contests.”
England Women’s Central Contracts 2016-17:
Tamsin Beaumont – Kent
Katherine Brunt – Yorkshire
Kathryn Cross – Lancashire
Charlotte Edwards – Kent
Georgia Elwiss – Sussex
Natasha Farrant – Kent
Lydia Greenway – Kent
Rebecca Grundy – Warwickshire
Jenny Gunn – Nottinghamshire
Danielle Hazell – Yorkshire
Amy Jones – Warwickshire
Heather Knight – Berkshire
Laura Marsh – Kent
Natalie Sciver – Surrey
Anya Shrubsole – Somerset
Sarah Taylor – Sussex
Lauren Winfield – Yorkshire
Fran Wilson – Somerset
Danielle Wyatt – Nottinghamshire
The 2015 season has seen dramatic last-gasp four day victories, thrilling limited-overs contests and an historic Investec Ashes Test, all in the unique surroundings of Trent Bridge.
Next season, we’d wager, will be no less enthralling and frankly we’d hate for you to miss out.