England Women have shifted their pre-season training camp to Pretoria in South Africa, after the planned trip to Abu Dhabi was cancelled due to safety concerns stemming from recent conflict in the Middle East.
The England team were scheduled to fly to Abu Dhabi last weekend for their camp, but the departure was cancelled following air strikes in Iran and resulting regional airspace closures.
The Abu Dhabi camp would have served as a competitive intra-squad series, with two separate squads staying in separate hotels and different coaching teams. It would have been the third of three winter training camps, following smaller skills-based camps in the Middle East for players not involved in franchise cricket, to get the players ready for the T20 World Cup at home, less than 100 days away.
After the Abu Dhabi leg was cancelled, options for rescheduling the camp remained limited, with many venues in South Africa and Zimbabwe already booked by county pre-season tours. Spain and Loughborough were reportedly being considered, before Pretoria was shortlisted.
On Friday, the ECB announced that two 15-player squads have been named for the camp, in honour of English legends Jan Brittin and Rachael Heyhoe Flint. Team Brittin will be captained by Nat Sciver-Brunt, with Jon Lewis as coach, while Charlie Dean leads Team Heyhoe Flint under Luke Williams. England head coach Charlotte Edwards will oversee both sides.
The camp is now set to be held between March 10 and 27.
The squads blend established international stars, along with fringe players, and eight uncapped prospects: Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Jodi Grewcock, Grace Potts, Grace Scrivens, Alexa Stonehouse, Davina Perrin, Rhianna Southby, and Ellie Threlkeld. Perrin, who scored a century for Northern Superchargers in last season’s Hundred, is among the most prominent of the newcomers.
Edwards said: “This is a big opportunity for every player to put their hand up and show they can be part of our World Cup plans. It doesn’t matter if you’re new or experienced. We want to use this series to test ourselves under pressure and create a competitive edge ahead of the summer.”
The ECB had also planned to stream every game from Abu Dhabi. Whether the matches in Pretoria will now be broadcast remains unclear.
England Women squads for the intra-squad camp
Team Heyhoe Flint
Em Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Charlie Dean (captain), Sophie Ecclestone, Mahika Gaur, Dani Gibson, Jodi Grewcock, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Grace Potts, Grace Scrivens, Alexa Stonehouse, Danni Wyatt-Hodge
Team Brittin
Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Sophia Dunkley, Lauren Filer, Freya Kemp, Charis Pavely, Davina Perrin, Paige Scholfield, Nat Sciver-Brunt (captain), Linsey Smith, Rhianna Southby, Ellie Threlkeld, Mady Villiers, Issy Wong
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