Two of England’s contracted players, Kate Cross and Amy Jones, will be spending the winter in Australia, playing for Perth’s Western Fury in the Women’s National Cricket League.

Both will be available for the entire competition, which begins on October 6 and runs until February 2018, with gaps in the middle for the women’s Ashes and the third season of the WBBL.

While England’s Ashes squad is yet to be announced, it is probably therefore safe to assume that neither Cross nor Jones will be included.

However, England coach Mark Robinson has stated that he sees it as an opportunity for Cross and Jones “to test themselves by playing good, competitive cricket” over the winter, and there remains the chance of a last minute mid-series call-up due to injury, should England require their services.