In a somewhat incredible centralising move, CRICKETher have discovered that prior to the recent Women’s Ashes, the entire England Women’s Selection Panel was completely abolished. Instead as of this summer, responsibility for squad selection has rested entirely with the Head of England Women’s Performance, Paul Shaw.

All of the existing selectors – including the Chair, Sarah Pickford – received an email back in June informing them that they were dismissed with immediate effect.

Additionally, the England Women’s Academy Head Coach (until last week, Lisa Keightley) was given sole responsibility for the selection of EWA squads.

While the ECB are currently seeking to appoint a team of senior and development scouts, led by a new Head of Scouting, the post of “England Selector” has been permanently abolished. Shaw will now, according to the ECB, “work closely with a group of key stakeholders” (selected by himself) to make all selectorial decisions. Meanwhile Sarah Pickford – who had been an England selector for 8 years – is likely to have no further involvement in the selection process whatsoever.

Previously, the England Women’s selection processes have always aligned with that of their male counterparts, whereby an independent chair, alongside several senior selectors and the coach, meet prior to every series to decide on the final squad selection. However, power now seems to be largely concentrated in the hands of the Head of Performance – who, it is alleged, failed to attend several selection meetings prior to the changes being implemented.

The ECB have stated that the new system makes the selection process “more robust and resourced than ever before”. However, a source who was previously involved in the selection process has told CRICKETher that they believe the changes to be “a re-invention of the wheel and thoroughly misguided”.

The Australians have recently headed back home with the Women’s Ashes trophy back in their grasp, presumably soon to be added to the silverware on display in their trophy cabinet.

There’s just one little problem: the trophy contains a glaring error.

CRICKETher’s editor Raf Nicholson spotted the mistake during the recent series, when the trophy was being displayed prior to the beginning of the Test match at Canterbury.

The discs on the base of the trophy contain the dates and results of the 21 women’s England-Australia series’ played to date (with space to show all results until 2030). The third series listed appears on the trophy as “1949/50 – Australia”. But… the series concerned actually took place during the 1948/9 season – with the three Tests (of which one was won by the Aussies, and two ended in draws) occurring in January and February 1949, at Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

Detail of the Women’s Ashes Trophy

The Women’s “Ashes” – which are the remains of a miniature bat signed by both teams burned prior to the 1998 series – were originally housed within a timber cricket ball, but a new version of the trophy, which now surrounds the ball with nine golden stumps, was jointly commissioned by the ECB and Cricket Australia prior to the 2013 series. A company based in Kyneton, Victoria – Flynn Silver – was responsible for its production. Apparently the error on this new version of the trophy had until now gone unnoticed by either board.

While the correct series dates are on both the Cricket Archive and ESPNcricinfo databases, Wikipedia for some unknown reason has the same (incorrect) dates as the trophy. Perhaps the trophy’s engravers checked the wrong source before they did their job?!

CRICKETher did bring the gaffe to the attention of the ECB during the recent series, so it may be that something will be done to amend the error before the next Ashes encounter Down Under in 2017/18.

For now, though, there’s just one word to sum up the situation…

Oops!

Before England’s match at Chelmsford last Wednesday evening a special ceremony took place, as three girls from the East London Girls club were presented with bats on behalf of the Cricket Society.

The bats – which are from Cricket Deal Direct’s Heather Knight Collection – are part of a wider three-year bursary scheme funded by the Cricket Society through Chance to Shine Street. The Society are using a legacy which was left to them by a former officer, Vivienne Hogarth, with the request that it be used to help talented but needy cricketers.

Chairman of the Cricket Society Nigel Hancock was at Chelmsford to witness the presentation, and explained that the Society had been keen to use the money to aid grassroots women’s cricket, and had chosen to act as a funder for Chance to Shine as a result.

The girls themselves were clearly thrilled with their new bats, which they personally chose, and with the opportunity to meet England players Charlotte Edwards and Heather Knight before seeing them in action. 15-year-old Kiran, who has been playing cricket for two years, said:

“The bat feels amazing. It’s so good. My bat’s nothing like this!”

Kiran is just one of 400 girls annually who since 2011 have benefitted from the expansion of Chance to Shine’s Street scheme, which is now a national programme designed to provide opportunities to participate in cricket where the sport would not otherwise be accessible.

While cricket was not offered at her school, when Chance to Shine Street held an event at Wanstead School two years ago Kiran decided to go along, and fell in love with the game.

“Cricket’s not like any other sport,” she told CRICKETher. “Every ball you’re watching, and every ball is different. I would love to play for England one day!”

The East London Girls club is one of several girls-only schemes which Chance to Shine Street have introduced, and forms part of the general expansion of girls’ cricket in Essex in recent years, spearheaded by Essex Cricket Board’s Dave Letch. Several of the girls from East London now also play for Wanstead CC.

After the award, the girls stayed on to watch England Women beat Australia in spectacular fashion. It was certainly great to see them being inspired by the very player, Heather Knight, whose name and signature adorns their new bats.

A five-fer from Kelly Castle saw Essex continue their late-season bid to remain in Division 2 of the county championship, as they bowled Scotland out for 116 to win by 34 runs.

It was a day for the bowlers, as Hannah Jeffery also had cause to celebrate, becoming the first ever woman to take 100 1st XI wickets for Essex.

Scotland struggled in conditions which became ever more overcast as the afternoon progressed, losing 3 quick wickets early on, all to the accuracy of Castle (5-18), who bowled Rachel Scholes and then trapped both Kathryn Bryce and Kari Anderson lbw.

Jeffery, who had been keeping her team on tenterhooks, then at last had the chance to celebrate her 100th wicket as she bowled Kirstie Gordon for a duck, leaving Scotland 36-5 after 18 overs.

Scotland rallied with a 42-run partnership between skipper Abbi Aitken (22) and Sarah Bryce (11), but when the two were dismissed in successive overs just after drinks – Aitken caught at silly point attempting to punish the bowling of Essex captain Hannah Courtnell – Scotland slid further towards the point of no return.

Sam “Haggis” Haggo lived up to her nickname, playing with heart for a late-order 25*. But she was left stranded as Castle wrapped up a successful day for herself and her side with two more quick wickets to finish Scotland off in the 37th over.

Earlier, having won the toss, Scotland had elected to field first on a green wicket, but Essex got off to a flier, reaching 31-0 after 5 overs.

The introduction of left-arm spinner Gordon (3-16) to the attack helped peg Essex back, but a quick-fire 23 from Mady Villiers, batting in conjunction with her captain, clawed it back for the home side and allowed them to reach a fair total of 150.

While Scotland were sharp in the field – with three good run-outs, including a throw-in from Scholes to end Villiers’ innings – their bowlers did struggle at times to find the right line, with “Wides” (29) finishing the day as top-scorer for Essex.

Essex have labelled their late-season fixtures “Operation No Relegation”, after a poor start to the season left them languishing second from bottom of Division 2. Captain Hannah Courtnell, speaking to CRICKETher after the game, praised her team for their recent two wins, but emphasised how important it is that they finish the season well:

“We’ve gone down last year from Division 1 and that hit us hard, and we’re in a phase now where we’re trying to rebuild. We’re finding our game now, we’re finding what’s right for us.”

“We know we’re bottom of the table, and we know how tight it is, and we don’t want to go down.”

This year there are no county championship play-offs, meaning that the two teams who finish bottom of Division 2 – currently Essex and Scotland – will face automatic relegation. Essex’s final two fixtures of the season – against Staffordshire today, and Durham on 13 September – will thus be crucial in determining whether Courtnell’s team can do as they are hoping to and succeed in Operation No Relegation.

A convincing 8-wicket win by Bath Wanderers yesterday in their match against Wokingham Ridgeway at Wokingham CC took them one step closer to their goal of winning the Women’s Cricket Southern Premier League title.

CRICKETher were there to see the match, which was reduced to 35 overs a side after two hours of play were lost to rain.

A 10-player Ridgeway, batting first, lasted for all bar one ball of their 35 overs, but managed to accumulate just 70 runs in that time, with only Corinne Hall (11) and Lissy MacLeod (15) offering many scoring strokes. Both were eventually out caught on the leg side trying to slog the ball, as Kate Randall finished with figures of 4-14.

Bath showed their intent from the outset, with Fran Wilson (who top-scored with 30) hitting three boundaries off the first over of their innings, as they raced to their target in just 12 and a half overs. Only Sarah Clarke (2-16) was able to stem the flow, removing both openers before Sophie Luff hit the winning run off Clark’s sixth over of the day.

https://twitter.com/FairgroundTown/status/635484558306246658

Bath chased down the runs just in time, with more rain arriving shortly after the players trudged off the pitch.

It puts them at the top of the Southern Premier League table with just one round of Championship matches left to be played, on 6 September. Bath’s game against second-placed Hursley Park CC, who are behind (but only just) with an average of 16.42 to Bath’s 16.69*, will be a decisive one in determining whether they can retain their place at the top of the Premier League at the end of the season.

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* As in the women’s county championship, the number of points a team accumulates is averaged out, based on the number of completed games, and the winner of the Premier League is the team with the highest average at the end of the season.

The ECB have today announced the squad which will contest the three Ashes T20s against Australia, beginning on August 26 at Chelmsford.

There are two changes from the Test squad, with Danielle Wyatt and Danielle Hazell replacing Kate Cross and Fran Wilson.

Hazell was the surprise omission from the initial ODI squad and, as current number 1-ranked bowler in the world in T20s, must surely be in contention to start for England at Chelmsford.

Wyatt is presumably back into the squad at least partly on the back of her unrivalled season with the bat at county level, having hit 287 runs at an average of 57, including a century against Somerset back in June.

Meanwhile Jenny Gunn, after sitting the Test out due to the flaring up of an old neck injury on the first morning, is evidently back to full match fitness – fresh from hitting 51* and taking 5-3 against Kent last weekend to deny them the county T20 title.

The only real surprise is the non-selection of Kent’s Tash Farrant, who has not featured in any of England’s squads this summer. Given that the ECB’s central contracts are up for renewal in October, this perhaps does not bode well for her prospects of retaining her place in the elite 18.

The series is of vital importance for England, who need to win all three games in order to draw the series on points and thus retain the Ashes. Meanwhile, even a no-result due to bad weather (worth 1 point apiece) would see Australia win an Ashes series in England for the first time since 2001.

The full T20 squad is as follows:

• Charlotte Edwards (Kent)
• Katherine Brunt (Yorkshire)
• Georgia Elwiss (Sussex)
• Lydia Greenway (Kent)
• Becky Grundy (Warwickshire)
• Jenny Gunn (Nottinghamshire)
• Danielle Hazell (Yorkshire)
• Heather Knight (Berkshire)
• Laura Marsh (Kent)
• Nat Sciver (Surrey)
• Anya Shrubsole (Somerset)
• Sarah Taylor (Sussex)
• Lauren Winfield (Yorkshire)
• Danielle Wyatt (Nottinghamshire)

This article was amended after final publication of the official scorecards showing Sussex (not Yorkshire) had clinched the T20 Cup.

In the final round of the T20 season, CRICKETher was at East Grinstead to see Sussex pull-off the two wins they needed to finish level on points with Yorkshire and Kent at the top of the table, bringing it all down to Net Run Rate, with Sussex emerging victorious by the tightest of margins to take the title.

Sussex v Berkshire

In a low-scoring game first up, Berkshire fell just 4 short of their 96-run target, though in fact they were perhaps fortunate to get so close after a flurry of wickets left them well behind the rate from early on in their chase.

The initial damage was done by Freya Davies (4-18), who took wickets in each over of her opening spell, including the dangerous Lissy Macleod (6) as Alexia Walker took a good low catch at mid-on. Corinne Hall was also sent back early, caught behind on 0 wafting at a wide one outside off stump.

Alex Rogers (in form after half-centuries in each of the two previous rounds of T20s) looked dangerous until Holly Colvin took a great catch looking over her shoulder running back at point off the bowling of Ellen Burt and she was out for 20. Only Carla Rudd (23) offered greater resistance, until she was bowled swinging at a straight ball of Paige Scholfield’s (2-6 off her 2 overs).

Fi Morris and Daisy Gardner were left at the crease needing 13 off the last over, but their valiant efforts could not quite see Berkshire over the line.

Earlier, Sussex had struggled to post 100 as a fine fielding display by Berkshire, in particular 14-year-old Lauren Bell, helped restrict the run rate. The powerplay overs yielded just 22 runs, as well as the wickets of Walker (1) and Georgia Adams (12). Oddly, leading strike bowler Gardner did not feature until the 16th over, with her first over a double wicket maiden. Some good strokes from Abbey Freeborn (25*) though, helped pull it back for the Prawns towards the end of their innings.

Berkshire v Somerset

An assured 48 off 49 balls from Sophie Luff set up Somerset to wallop Berkshire by 47 runs in the day’s second game.

Somerset got off to something of a flier, hitting 42 off the first 6 overs with Luff, who came in at 3 after Georgina Adcock had been well-caught on the deep extra cover boundary by Fi Morris, knocking it all around the wicket.

Although Somerset were pegged-back slightly in the middle overs after the introduction of the always-threatening Daisy Gardner, they got their motors on again towards the end of the innings. Luff was eventually stumped by Carla Rudd in the penultimate over, but Moira Comfort’s last-ditch 9 off 6 balls drove them to a total of 127-4.

A hill quickly became a mountain for the Beavers as Comfort, opening the bowling, reduced them to 2-0 in the first over, with Harris and Macleod both departing Leg Before Wicket. Bowling her 4 overs on the bounce, Comfort then added the scalps of Corinne Hall and Alex Rogers before the 8th over, to leave Berkshire reeling at 26-4.

There was really no way back from there, and though Carla Rudd (22) again offered some resistance, once she was bowled by Nicole Richards, Berkshire collapsed to 80 all out, as young No. 11 Lauren Bell – a real prospect with the ball and in the field – lopped a simple return catch to Kate Randall to end the Beaver’s T20 season on a disappointing low.

Sussex v Somerset

In an exciting final game which was a must-win for Sussex in their T20 title challenge, they successfully chased down the 128-run target set for them by Somerset with 2 overs to spare.

Once again Somerset’s batsmen played with freedom, with openers Georgina Adcock and Gwenan Davies both tonking it around the park, including a huge six from Davies over deep midwicket – the only maximum of the day. By the time of the introduction of Colvin in the 8th over they were 56-0, though she helped to stem the flow of runs, conceding just 11 runs off her 4 overs and removing both openers – Adock bowled round her legs for 25, and Davies stumped for 38.

Colvin finished with figures of 4-11 after two further stumpings in a quadruple-wicket final over, which also included 2 run outs. Nonetheless, Somerset’s total looked a formidable one; and one that they must have been fairly confident of defending.

They had reckoned without Sussex opener Georgia Adams, who found her best form of the season at just the right moment to keep her side in the hunt for the T20 cup. She raced to 60 off 54 balls, including 9 fours, well-backed up by Paige Scholfield (31), before being caught by Nicole Richards at backward point in the 14th over.

It was left to Hannah Phelps to hit the winning boundary off the last ball of the 18th over, as Sussex celebrated their victory.

It was however another 24 hours before they could celebrate winning the T20 Cup, as final publication of the official scorecards showed they’d pipped Yorkshire on Net Run Rate by just two-hundredths of a run.

Meanwhile Somerset captain Sophie Luff reflected upon a tough season in Division 1, admitting that it is a big step up from Division 2:

“There is a difference, but the round-robin thing has been really good – we’ve had chances and chances to keep coming back.”

“We’ve had some disappointing results, but this was our most all-round performance of the season – to beat Berkshire and come up close against Sussex was just outstanding.”

The ECB have announced a 14-player squad to contest next week’s Women’s Ashes Test match against Australia at Canterbury.

The big news is the recall of Middlesex’s Fran Wilson to the squad, on the back of her recent excellent form with the bat for both the England Academy and her county this season. She was one of England’s top-performers in the Academy games against the Aussie Shooting Stars in UAE earlier this year, with scores of 57, 50, 45 and 18 in the 50-over matches. Most recently, she made 55 against the Australians in the two-day practice game at Loughborough last weekend.

England go into the Test match (which is worth 4 points for a win) 2-4 down in the series on points, having lost the second and third ODIs at Bristol and Worcester. The selection of Wilson in place of Amy Jones – who finished the ODI series with scores of 15 and 0 before being dropped for the third game – suggests that England want to shore up their batting after poor performances in the last two ODIs, where they were bowled out for 196 and 152 respectively.

Wilson has previously featured in a handful of ODIs and T20s, but should she be selected in the starting XI on Tuesday it would be her first time in an England shirt since 2011. It would also be her Test debut. She is the first non-contracted player to feature in an England squad since Sonia Odedra’s selection for last summer’s Test against India at Wormsley.

The squad is otherwise unchanged from that which contested the 3 ODIs.

The full squad is as follows:

• Charlotte Edwards (Kent)
• Katherine Brunt (Yorkshire)
• Kate Cross (Lancashire)
• Georgia Elwiss (Sussex)
• Lydia Greenway (Kent)
• Becky Grundy (Warwickshire)
• Jenny Gunn (Nottinghamshire)
• Heather Knight (Berkshire)
• Laura Marsh (Kent)
• Nat Sciver (Surrey)
• Anya Shrubsole (Somerset)
• Sarah Taylor (Sussex)
• Fran Wilson (Middlesex)
• Lauren Winfield (Yorkshire)