Bryony Smith and Sophia Dunkley have been named in the ECB Development XI to take on Pakistan Women in Leicester on Thursday (9 May).
South East Stars skipper Bryony Smith, last played for England in 2022, has scored nearly 200 runs for the Stars so far this year. Sophia Dunkley has been a regular in the England set up and has also started the season strongly for the Stars, averaging 81 in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.
Northern Diamonds’ Hollie Armitage captains the group while England Women Performance Pace Bowling Coach Chris Liddle will lead the team as head coach.
Senior quartet Lauren Filer, Bess Heath, Linsey Smith and Danielle Wyatt who have all been selected in England Women’s IT20 squad to face Pakistan are named, alongside regional contracted players to form a strong playing XI.
The T20 warm-up fixture will act as important preparation for Pakistan ahead of their upcoming Vitality IT20 and Metro Bank ODI series’ against Heather Knight’s England Women and important match experience for those selected.
The match takes place at Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicestershire CCC on Thursday 9 May, with play starting at 11am.
England Women Head of Performance Pathways Richard Bedbrook said: “The ECB Development XI match opportunities provide us with real flexibility in an approach to selection.
“On this occasion, this T20 fixture is the only one of the summer against an International opposition outside of the various England Women bilateral series’ and therefore providing opportunities to a particularly strong playing XI is important as we continue to build with the bigger picture of the T20 World Cup in mind.”
ECB Development XI team
Hollie Armitage (C; Northern Diamonds)
Georgia Adams (Southern Vipers)
Sophia Dunkley (South East Stars)
Lauren Filer (Western Storm)
Bess Heath (Northern Diamonds)
Grace Potts (Central Sparks)
Bryony Smith (South East Stars)
Linsey Smith (Southern Vipers)
Mady Villiers (Sunrisers)
Issy Wong (Central Sparks)
Danielle Wyatt (Southern Vipers)
