England have announced their 13-member squad for the upcoming Women’s Ashes Test against Australia, beginning July 18, in Taunton.
The list includes 21-year-old Kirstie Gordon, the Huntly-born left-arm spinner who represented Scotland Women before making her England debut in 2018. Gordon played five T20 international games for England during the World T20 last year, picking up eight wickets in the side’s run to the finals.
She also took eight wickets in England Women’s Academy’s 240-run loss to Australia in a tour game at Marlborough last week.
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Along with Gordon, England have included veteran pacer Katherine Brunt in the squad. Brunt has been battling a recurring back problem, but is fit to be part of England’s must-win fixture.
Jenny Gunn, and Danni Wyatt, part of the squad that lost the ODI leg of the multi-format series 3-0, will retain their place in the Women’s Academy squad, and will face Australia in the T20Is that follow the Test.
Alex Hartley and Fran Wilson, on the other hand, will stay with the Test team, as cover for the Taunton clash.
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England is currently trailing the multi-format Ashes 6-0[/caption]
England currently trail the multi-format Ashes 6-0, having lost all three games of the ODI leg. They now need to win the Taunton Test to stay alive in the series; a loss a draw would result in Australia retaining the Ashes.
Knight seemed confident that England will be able to bounce back in the Taunton Test, before the sides move on to the three-T20I series.
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“It’s obviously a very important match for us and we need to win it to stay in the series. We’re raring to go again to get back into the Ashes,” Knight said.
“The beauty of the multi-format points series means we’re still very much in the battle. We can get back to 6-4 with a win in the Test match and that’s exciting.”
England squad: Heather Knight (captain), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Kirstie Gordon, Amy Jones, Laura Marsh, Natalie Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Lauren Winfield, Sarah Taylor.
