Davidson-Richards in England squad

Kent vice-captain Alice Davidson-Richards has received her first senior England call-up for the tour to India later this month.

Teammate and fellow Kent Cricket Academy graduate Tash Farrant earns a recall to the squad which also features Kent captain Tammy Beaumont.

Click here to see England v South Africa in the Royal London Women’s ODI at The Spitfire Ground

Davidson-Richards, from Tunbridge Wells, has been in the England Academy squad and won Kent Player of the Year in 2017.

The seamer and right-hander is one of three new faces in the squad alongside Bryony Smith of Surrey and Katie George of Hampshire with recalls for Kent left-armer Farrant, Lancashire seamer Kate Cross and Warwickshire wicketkeeper Amy Jones.

The sixteen-strong group doesn’t feature Sarah Taylor or Katherine Brunt, with Brunt unavailable after injuring her back during the Women’s Big Bash League and Taylor rested.

The squad will play a T20 tri-series against India and Australia in Mumbai later this month and before a three-match ODI series against India in Nagpur in early April.

Coach Mark Robinson is looking forward to testing new players and adding new options to his squad ahead of a year that sees England play host to New Zealand and South Africa and take part in the ICC World T20.

The former Sussex coach said: “We’ve said for a long time that we need to play more games and it’s exciting that we’ve been able to arrange this very competitive series outside of the ICC Women’s Championship.

“It gives us a chance to see other players and measure their progress and that also means we can rest and rotate. In Sarah’s case, she’s been doing really well and we always targeted this period as one where she can focus on her wellbeing in preparation for what will be a busy summer leading into the ICC World T20I.

“It’s hugely exciting to have three new faces in the group – and to welcome back a few others – obviously that means a few have missed out but they can use the time to their advantage and come back more strongly.”

England squad: Heather Knight (captain, Berkshire), Tammy Beaumont (Kent), Kate Cross (Lancashire), Alice Davidson-Richards (Kent), Sophie Ecclestone (Lancashire), Tash Farrant (Kent), Katie George (Hampshire), Jenny Gunn (Warwickshire), Alex Hartley (Lancashire), Danielle Hazell (Yorkshire), Amy Jones (wicketkeeper, Warwickshire), Anya Shrubsole (Somerset), Bryony Smith (Surrey), Nat Sciver (Surrey), Fran Wilson (Middlesex)
Danni Wyatt (Sussex).

India tour schedule:

March 22 – 1st IT20: India v Australia, Mumbai, 3.30am GMT
March 23 – 2nd IT20: Australia v England, Mumbai, 3.30am GMT
March 25 – 3rd IT20: India v England, Mumbai, 3.30am GMT
March 26 – 4th IT20: India v Australia, Mumbai, 3.30,am GMT
March 28 – 5th IT20: Australia v England, Mumbai, 3.30am GMT)
March 29 – 6th IT20: India v England Mumbai 9am (3.30am GMT)
March 31 – Final Mumbai 9am (3.30am GMT)
April 6 – 1st ODI: India v England Nagpur 10am local, 4.30am GMT
April 9 – 2nd ODI: India v England Nagpur 10am (4.30am GMT)
April 12 – 3rd ODI: India v England Nagpur 10am (4.30am GMT)

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