England Women have announced their LV= Insurance Women's Ashes Test squad for the 2023 Metro Bank Ashes Series.
The series, which begins with a five-day Test at Trent Bridge from 22 June, will feature two of the shining lights from The Blaze's inaugural season as Tammy Beaumont will accompany Three Lions vice-captain Nat Sciver-Brunt.
Beaumont, who made her debut against the Australians in 2013, will be looking to come away victorious after playing in three previous drawn Tests against the Southern Stars. Sciver-Brunt, meanwhile, top scored with 169* in her most recent red-ball outing for her nation, another drawn encounter against South Africa.
Before the Trent Bridge Test, England Women’s Test squad will play Australia A in a three-day warm-up fixture at the Incora County Ground, Derbyshire (15-17 June).
The multi-format series will consist of one LV= Insurance Test Match (worth four points), three ODIs and three Vitality IT20s (each worth two points). The Test match will be England Women’s first over five days on home soil, and their first visit to Trent Bridge since 2000.
Meanwhile, two of the Blaze’s Charlotte Edwards Cup finalists will also feature for England A. Kirstie Gordon, who captained that came up narrowly short in the rain-affected final at the weekend will be joined by team-mate Sarah Glenn. Captained by Northern Diamonds’ Lauren Winfield-Hill, they will also play the senior Australia Women’s team in a three-day warm-up at Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicestershire (15-17 June).
Head coach Jon Lewis said: “We are looking forward to what promises to be an exciting Ashes series.
“We are fortunate that our talent pool is growing fast, this has enabled us to pick a nicely balanced squad.
“Our preparations are going well, and this week’s upcoming games against Australia A and Australia give us another great opportunity to rehearse for the Test match next week.
“To have two Ashes series running alongside each other is very special and we look forward to entertaining our fans and gaining some new ones along the way.”
Over 15,500 tickets have been snapped up for the Test match at Trent Bridge which starts on Thursday 22 June. Adult tickets are available from just £10, whilst U16s are available for £5 and can be purchased here.
England Women's Ashes Test Squad
Heather Knight (captain, Western Storm)
Tammy Beaumont (The Blaze)
Lauren Bell (Southern Vipers)
Alice Capsey (South East Stars)
Kate Cross (Thunder)
Alice Davidson-Richards (South East Stars)
Sophia Dunkley (South East Stars)
Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder)
Lauren Filer (Western Storm)
Danielle Gibson (Western Storm)
Amy Jones (Central Sparks)
Emma Lamb (Thunder)
Nat Sciver-Brunt (vice-captain, The Blaze)
Issy Wong (Central Sparks)
Danielle Wyatt (Southern Brave)
England Women's A squad to face Australia in warm-up
Lauren Winfield-Hill (captain, Northern Diamonds)
Maia Bouchier (Southern Vipers)
Alice Davidson-Richards (South East Stars)
Freya Davies (South East Stars)
Charlie Dean (vice-captain, Southern Vipers)
Sarah Glenn (The Blaze)
Kirstie Gordon (The Blaze)
Eva Gray (Sunrisers)
Bess Heath (Northern Diamonds)
Eve Jones (Central Sparks)
Paige Scholfield (South East Stars)
Grace Scrivens (Sunrisers)
Danielle Wyatt (Southern Vipers)
Warm-up fixtures
Thursday 15 June-Saturday 17 June: Three-Day Warm-Up, England Women v Australia A, Incora County Ground, Derbyshire CC, 11am
Entry is free.
Thursday 15 June-Saturday 17 June: Three-Day Warm-Up, England A v Australia Women, Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicestershire CCC, 11am
Entry is free.
Women's Ashes Fixtures
Thursday June 22-Monday 26 June: Metro Bank Test Match, Trent Bridge, Nottingham, 11am (4 points)
Tickets are available to buy here.