Lightning duo Maddie Ward and Josie Groves have been named in a 15-player England squad for the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa next January.

The pair will be joined by a familiar face in Chris Guest, who has been chosen as Head Coach for the tournament, a role he also fulfils at the East Midlands side which will move to Trent Bridge from 1 November.

Groves made eight senior Lightning appearances across the Rachael Heyhoe Flint and Charlotte Edwards Cup tournaments last summer, taking eight wickets and hitting one half century.

Ward, an Academy member of the Lightning side, impressed for Nottinghamshire U18s this summer, amassing 252 runs in 12 innings, and enjoyed a fruitful stint behind the stumps for the senior side, taking three catches and making seven stumpings.

“I really wanted to be involved in this squad but when I found out I was quite shocked,” said Ward.

“I got a bit emotional and there were certainly a few happy tears!

“I still sit and think that I am going to play in a World Cup. That is crazy.

“It is nice to see all the hard work pay off. There is a lot of time left for me to achieve my goals in cricket career, but to be picked for this is really special.”

Guest has been Lightning Head Coach since the beginning of this year, having previously held the role of Senior Regional Talent Manager.

He was appointed to the Three Lions’ role following an open recruitment process and will be assisted by Laura Marsh (Sunrisers) and Darren Franklin (Central Sparks).

Emma Marlow and Alexa Stonehouse, who were both part of Trent Rockets’ squad during 2022, have also made the squad.

Five non-travelling reserves have also been selected, who will take a full part throughout the preparation phase and act as standby players should a replacement player be required: Emily Churms (Central Sparks), Charlotte Lambert (South East Stars), Bethan Miles (South East Stars), Jemima Spence (South East Stars) and Mary Taylor (Southern Vipers).

"It's hugely exciting to name this squad and to think ahead to the opportunity that awaits the players,” said Richard Bedbrook, Head of England Women Performance Pathways.

"They're a tremendous group of young cricketers with great potential at the beginning of their journeys in the game.

“They'll all benefit hugely from this experience – on and off the field.

“It's important to compete at this age-group and it's equally important to continue the process of learning what it takes to progress to the next level. I'm sure we'll take a lot away from the tournament.

"We have the ambition for the next few months to be a significant life moment for all the players and ensure they use it as a springboard towards making an impact in senior regional cricket, and hopefully beyond in years to come.

"The ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup will provide an exciting platform for the best young players around the world and it will be really exciting to see our players compete against their peers in a global event."

The squad marks the first time the best U19 cricketers have come together from the women’s game to compete in an ICC Global Event. The tournament will be hosted by South Africa, and sees 16 countries competing from January 14 to January 29.

In addition to the 11 Full ICC Members, there are five Associates in the competition - Indonesia, Rwanda, Scotland, the UAE and the USA. England will be in Group B, alongside Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Rwanda.

England Squad

Ellie Anderson (Central Sparks)

Hannah Baker (Central Sparks)

Josie Groves (Lightning)

Liberty Heap (Thunder)

Niamh Holland (Western Storm)

Ryana Macdonald-Gay (South East Stars)

Emma Marlow (Northern Diamonds)

Charis Pavely (Central Sparks)

Davina Perrin (Central Sparks)

Lizzie Scott (Northern Diamonds)

Grace Scrivens (Sunrisers)

Sophia Smale (Western Storm)

Seren Smale (Thunder)

Alexa Stonehouse (South East Stars)

Maddie Ward (Lightning)

England Women U19 World Cup Fixtures

Sunday January 15: England Women U19 v Zimbabwe Women U19, 1.45pm

Tuesday January 17: England Women U19 v Pakistan Women U19, 1.45pm

Thursday January 19: England Women U19 v Rwanda Women U19, 10am

Saturday January 21-Wednesday January 25: Super Six League (The top three teams from Group A versus the top three teams in Group D; Group B v Group C)

Friday January 27: ICC Women's U19 World Cup Semi-Finals, 10am & 1.45pm

Sunday January 29: ICC Women's U19 World Cup Final, 1.45pm

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International cricket in 2023

Trent Bridge will host three international matches next summer, with the sole Test Match of the Women’s Ashes taking place at Nottinghamshire’s historic home, before England’s men face New Zealand and Ireland in IT20 and ODI contests respectively. 

Enter the ticketing ballot or peruse further information at trentbridge.co.uk/internationals.