England Women’s Academy squad announced for first international tour

Selectors today named a 14-player squad to travel to Potchefstroom in April, to play three Twenty20 matches and three 50-over matches against South Africa Women which includes Kent's Tamsin Beaumont and Deanna Cooper.

The England Women’s Academy will embark on this tour with high hopes after their success against full international opposition last summer. The squad will be looking to build on the wins they recorded against Australia and New Zealand during the warm-up matches ahead of the NatWest Women’s Quadrangular series held in England.

ECB Head of England Women’s Cricket Clare Connor said: “We are really looking forward to seeing how our Academy side compete against the full South African team.

"Preparations for the tour have gone well at the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough, where the players have been coached and mentored by our Lead Specialist Coaches, Assistant Coach to the Academy, Jonathan Finch, and Head Coach, Lisa Keightley.

“This tour represents a significant first in the women’s game, where essentially an A side has the opportunity to play a series of matches against full international opposition. As such, our players will experience the pressure of international cricket and will be able to gauge where they need to improve to enhance their chances of breaking in to the full England women’s squad.”

The England Women’s Academy will be based in Potchefstroom from 6^th-23^rd April.

England Women’s Academy squad, South Africa 2012

Caroline Atkins (Sussex) (Captain)

Tamsin Beaumont (Kent)

Deanna Cooper (Kent)

Kate Cross (Lancashire)

Catherine Dalton (Middlesex)

Jodie Dibble (Devon)

Amy Jones (Warwickshire)

Beth MacGregor (Essex)

Alice Macleod (Berkshire)

Natasha Miles (Middlesex)

Natalie Sciver (Surrey)

Helen Shipman (Warwickshire)

Fran Wilson (Somerset)

Danielle Wyatt (Staffordshire)

Match schedule

England Women’s Academy v South Africa Women

All matches will be played at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom
Tue 10 April warm-up match

Fri 13 April 1^st 50-over

Sun 15 April 2^nd 50-over

Tue 17 April 3^rd 50-over

Fri 20 April 1^stT20

Sat 21 April 2^nd T20

Sun 23 April 3^rd T20