Three Kent women named in England squad for tour of West Indies

The England women“s selectors have named Kent wicketkeeper Tamsin Beaumont (pictured, alongside Charlotte Edwards) in a 14 strong squad to tour St. Kitts, from October 31 to November 14 2009.

Tamsin will replace Sarah Taylor and joins her county team-mates Charlotte Edwards (captain) and Lydia Greenway for the West Indies tour. Head of England Women’s Cricket, Clare Connor, said of the decision: "As England’s opening bat and wicketkeeper in all limited overs cricket, Sarah has been through an intense period of international competition this year.

“The England management team has agreed that the next stage of her development will be best served with a focused period of physical regeneration and conditioning over the next two months. She will be working hard with the support team to ensure she is in optimal physical condition to play a full part in the India tour and the ICC World Twenty 20 in the West Indies next year."

Tamsin played an important part with the gloves and bat in the England Women’s Academy matches against an ICC Europe XI last month, and was also instrumental in Kent’s unbeaten run in the LV= County Championship – particularly impressive was her 136 opening the batting against Surrey.

Commenting on her inclusion, Tamsin said: “I“m delighted to be selected for the tour. Mark Lane gave me a call and told me I was the only wicketkeeper going. I“ve never been to the West Indies before but I have toured South Africa so I have some knowledge of playing overseas.

“I have played against most of the girls over the last couple of years and I know both Lydia and Lottie very well because they are Kent team mates. Obviously I haven“t kept wicket to some of these players, so I will have to work them out pretty quickly, but I“m looking forward to the challenge.

“All of my family and friends have been congratulating me and wishing me good luck. I guess this has come a bit earlier than I was expecting but I“m really looking forward to the challenge. I“m off to Loughborough University this year to study Chemistry and Sports Science; everything is coming at once for me!

"I would like to thank Ray Willis for helping to coach me from a young age. Ray has been a big inspiration and continues to help me with my game. Lottie and Lydia are also inspirational figures. They have achieved so much in the game so I look up to them and admire them for what they have achieved. Emily Drum, the former New Zealand captain, who played at Kent, is another person who has helped me with my game so I would like to thank her too for her input over the years.”

England will be without Claire Taylor, who has made the decision to have a break over winter to work on projects within her role as a Management Consultant at Reading University. Her decision is fully supported by the ECB and will not disadvantage her in the selection of future tours/series. She is looking to be back with the squad in time to prepare fully for the ICC World Twenty20.

England women play the West Indies international side in three 50 over ODIs and three Twenty20 matches. The trip is an ideal opportunity for the team to prepare for the ICC World Twenty20 group stage, taking place in St. Kitts, in early April/May 2010.

England women’s Head Coach, Mark Lane said, "This year has been incredible for the England women’s team. After two ICC global events and the Ashes they have proved that they are unarguably the best team in the world in all formats of the game. My job now is to start planning for the 2013 World Cup in India and this trip to the West Indies is the first stage of that four-year process."

England Squad:
Charlotte Edwards (captain) – Kent
Caroline Atkins – Sussex
Tamsin Beaumont – Kent
Katherine Brunt – Yorkshire
Holly Colvin – Sussex
Lydia Greenway – Kent
Isa Guha – Berkshire
Jenny Gunn – Nottinghamshire
Danielle Hazell – Yorkshire
Laura Marsh – Sussex
Beth Morgan – Middlesex
Ebony Rainford-Brent – Surrey
Nicky Shaw – Surrey
Anya Shrubsole – Somerset