Ecclestone Included In Ashes Squad

England Women announced their squad for the Ashes tour of Australia today with Lancashire’s left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone named as part of the 15.

The ICC Women’s World Cup champions depart for Brisbane on October 7, where they’ll attempt to regain the Ashes across a multi-format series that takes in three one-day internationals, a Test match and three T20 internationals. In 2015 in England, Australia ran out 10-6 winners after winning two ODIs, the one-off Test match and one T20I.

The inclusion of Ecclestone is the only change from the squad that triumphed in front of a sell-out crowd at Lord’s on July 23. It’ll be the first time that Heather Knight has led her side into an Ashes series.

Heather Knight (captain, Berkshire)

Tammy Beaumont (Kent)

Katherine Brunt (Yorkshire)

Sophie Ecclestone (Lancashire)

Georgia Elwiss (Sussex)

Jenny Gunn (Warwickshire)

Alex Hartley (Lancashire)

Danielle Hazell (Yorkshire)

Laura Marsh (Kent)

Anya Shrubsole (Somerset)

Nat Sciver (Surrey)

Sarah Taylor (wicketkeeper, Sussex)

Fran Wilson (Middlesex)

Lauren Winfield (Yorkshire)

Danni Wyatt (Sussex)

Coach Mark Robinson said: "It's a hugely exciting tour and one we are really looking forward to. Australia on their home soil will be a further test of the progress we have made.

“We said before the World Cup that the final at Lord's was never going to be our destination, it was just part of the journey, and that journey continues with this tour.

“Sophie Ecclestone has finished school now and has had a great summer domestically. Her selection will provide another option to our attack.”

Captain Heather Knight said: “Ashes tours don’t come around all too often so it’s always a special opportunity. Australia are going to be very strong opponents on their home soil so we’ll have to be at our best, across all three formats.

“Winning the World Cup was a dream come true but it doesn’t get much bigger than the Ashes. We weren’t able to win in 2015 so I know that the whole group will be intent on regaining the trophy this time round.”

The squad for the men’s Ashes will be announced tomorrow, at 10am.