England under-19 women favourites for European Cup
The England under-19 women's team will start as hot favourites to retain the European Cup for their country when play begins in the four-nation tournament today
Rick Eyre
10-Aug-2001
The England under-19 women's team will start as hot favourites to retain the
European Cup for their country when play begins in the four-nation tournament
today. The round-robin competition is being held at Bradfield College, Reading,
in the English county of Berkshire, and concludes on Sunday.
England have generally sent their 'A' team to this championship, which is
conducted every two years against the full senior national teams of other
European countries. This year, with rebuilding of the senior squad for the 2005
World Cup in their sights, all fourteen England representatives are under the
age of twenty.
Lancashire all-rounder Arran Thompson leads a side which includes three other
players who have appeared at full international level for England - Laura
Harper, Nicki Shaw and sixteen year-old Leanne Davis.
Three players have been chosen from the Yorkshire team that last week won the
Women's County Championship - Laura Spragg, Claire Atkinson and Clare Gough (no
relation apparently to Darren).
Making their first appearance at international level in this tournament is a
team from Scotland. Women's cricket was virtually unheard of at competitive
level in Scotland as little as two years ago, however the hard work of a
dedicated group of people has seen the formation of a national side under the
leadership of Linda Spence which has enjoyed success against county sides from
the north of England.
Ireland and Holland return for this year's European Cup, but one team who will
not be present is Denmark. Women's cricket has undergone a dramatic decline in
Denmark since they hosted the 1999 European Championships, with the local club
competition being disbanded in 2000 when teams were unable to field sufficient
players.
England Under-19 play Scotland in the opening round today, while Ireland face
the Netherlands. England, represented in the past by their 'A' team, have been
unbeaten in European Cup play since the tournament's inception in 1989.
Squads:
England: Arran Thompson (capt), Alexia Walker (vc), Laura Joyce, Laura Harper,
Laura Spragg, Clare Gough, Kate Oakenfold, Claire Atkinson, Nicola Shaw, Leanne
Davis, Sarah Clarke, Ebony Rainford-Brent, Isa Guha.
Ireland: Nikki Squire (capt), Anne Linehan (vc), Caitriona Beggs, Aoife Budd,
Miriam Grealey, Cecilia Joyce, Isobel Joyce, Grainne Leahy, Barbara McDonald,
Ciara Metcalfe, Lara Molins, Clare O'Leary, Saibh Young.
Netherlands: Carolien Salomons (capt), Teuntje de Boer, Maartje Köster, Birgit
Viguurs, Pauline te Beest, Cheraldine Oudolf, Annemarie Tanke, Carly Verheul,
Caroline Hes, Marjolijn Molenaar, Eugenie van Leeuwen, Mandy Kornet, Minou
Toussaint (wk).
Scotland: Linda Spence (capt), Kari Anderson (vc), Sara MacLean, Elizabeth
Smith, Alison Ramsay, Vari Maxwell, Kathryn White, Fiona Urquhart, Aileen
Galvin, Denise Newlove, Pam Quin, Caroline Sweetman, Shona McIntyre.