Grace Scrivens will step up as England A captain for both the 50-over and T20 series against New Zealand A next week, taking charge of an inexperienced but keenly watched group.
The 21-year-old Essex all-rounder – widely viewed as a long-term captaincy option for the senior side – has already led the A team in red-ball cricket, doing so during the winter trip to Australia. Limited-overs duties now follow, with England’s performance batting coach, Jon Lewis, overseeing the programme.
“We’re all looking forward to the series,” Lewis said. “We’ve selected a young and talented group of players, many of whom have gained recognition through their form for their counties in the first half of the season. It’s also good to see a number of players with recent experience of playing for England Women U19s.”
“New Zealand have brought over a strong A squad with a good amount of international experience so the challenge will be tough but I’m looking forward to seeing our players grab this opportunity against strong opposition.”
Selection tweaks
Hampshire opener Ella McCaughan features in both squads but is still rehabbing a minor injury and will miss the first three 50-over matches at Derby and Chelmsford. Left-arm seamer Mahika Gaur is available only for the third one-day game, while Gloucestershire leg-spinner Grace Thompson plays the opener before turning out for her regional side later in the week.
Those small absences underline the developmental nature of A-team cricket – a stepping-stone to full honours, but one that must fit around county and regional commitments.
At a glance
50-over squad
• Hannah Baker
• Tilly Corteen-Coleman
• Mahika Gaur
• Jodi Grewcock
• Emma Jones
• Freya Kemp
• Abi Norgrove
• Charis Pavely
• Davina Perrin
• Grace Potts
• Grace Scrivens (capt)
• Seren Smale
• Rhianna Southby
• Alexa Stonehouse
• Grace Thompson
• Phoebe Turner
third ODI only, 29 June
first ODI only, 23 June
T20 squad
Hannah Baker, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Mahika Gaur, Bess Heath, Emma Jones, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Ella McCaughan, Charis Pavely, Davina Perrin, Grace Potts, Grace Scrivens (capt), Seren Smale, Alexa Stonehouse.
Fixtures
23 June – 50-over, Derby
26 June – 50-over, Derby
29 June – 50-over, Chelmsford
3 July – T20, Chelmsford
5 July – T20, Beckenham
7 July – T20, Beckenham
Why it matters
Results at this level rarely grab headlines, yet selectors place heavy emphasis on performances here. Scrivens’s appointment shows faith in her tactical instincts, while repeat call-ups for teenagers such as Baker and Perrin suggest England’s pathway is functioning well.
Even so, expectations are kept realistic. New Zealand A contain several players with full-cap experience, so the visitors start as marginal favourites. For England, individual progress – building spells, converting starts, handling pressure – is the real currency.
In the shorter term, a solid showing could fast-track names like Kemp, Gaur or Heath back into senior discussions ahead of the late-summer internationals. For now, though, six matches in 15 days will offer a clear, if demanding, yardstick.
