Warks girls off to South Africa

A Warwickshire girls team is heading to the Under-19 championships in Cape Town later this month as they look to defend the title they won two years ago.

They are due to play against Western Province, Boland and South Western Country District (all South Africa) plus Lancashire and Wellington (New Zealand) between March 19 and March 30.

The 2008 side are generally much younger than their 2006 counterparts - although some of the squad are making the visit for a second time - and all the girls have raised their own funds for the trip.

The purpose of the tournament is to develop some Under-15s and Under-17s for the summer age-group programme and to augment the strength of the junior set up at those age-groups.

Warwickshire girls celebrate © Boyd Parker

Coach Errol Simms said: “Having had the experience two years ago of seeing so many of our players improve their skills and game-awareness, the offer to return was too great to turn down.

“We are looking at it as a development opportunity for all our players but particularly the younger ones this time. We hope that it will stand them in great stead for the season ahead.”

Many of the triumphant players from 2008 are now the backbone of the Warwickshire senior team which is due to compete in division two of the Liverpool Victoria County Championship in 2008, having won two successive promotions.

Warwickshire squad: Helen Shipman (capt), Jess Bramley, Laura Crofts, Alex Darwood , Tina Gough, Charley Green, Becky Grundy, Amy Jones, Lucy Maxwell, Liz Russell, Liz Smart (wkt), Izzy Watson, Rebecca Weller