Kent quintet in England Women’s training squad and two on U19 programme

Five Kent players are included in the England Women’s Performance Squadahead of a tour to South Africa in February 2016.

Captain Charlotte Edwards, Lydia Greenway and Laura Marsh keep their place after playing for England in the Women’s Ashes series including a Test here at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.

In the build-up to that series, Tammy Beaumont and Tash Farrant played for England Academy and are also included in a 21-player group based at the National Cricket Performance Centre at Loughborough.

ECB’s Director of England Women’s Cricket, Clare Connor, said: “We saw during the Women’s Ashes series this summer that the standard of international women’s cricket is constantly being pushed forwards and we must ensure that we have a structure in place that produces a continual stream of talented players, who are ready to perform in an England shirt if the opportunity arises.

"The England women’s cricket pathway is wider reaching and better resourced than ever before, and it is particularly encouraging to see some exciting young prospects coming through from the England Women’s Development Programme."

Kent's Megan Belt and Izzy Cloke will take part in the England Women’s Development Programme this winter.

Broadstairs spinner Belt, who turns 18 next month, is a regular in the Kent Women's side and Tunbridge Wells cricketer Cloke graduates from the England Under-15 set-up.