The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has today announced the 18 England players who will participate in the Sport England lottery funded winter training programme ahead of England's challenging ODI and Test series in New Zealand and Australia this winter.

A final 14 players from the 18 will be selected on 7th October for the ODI tournament between hosts New Zealand, England, India and Australia in Christchurch in January 2003 and the two Test Ashes Series against Australia in February at the Gabba and Sydney.

The experienced opening bowling partnership of Clare Taylor (Yorks) and Lucy Pearson (Staffordshire) are joined by England's two young bowlers who shone during the ODI series against India this summer, Isa Guha (Berkshire) and Laura Spragg (Yorkshire). Mandie Godliman retains her place as England's first choice wicket keeper following a good year behind the stumps and with the bat.

The 18 players are:

Player                                 *England Caps            Date of birth
Clare Connor (Sussex) Captain              69                     01.09.76
Caroline Atkins (Susex)                     8                     13.01.81
Sarah Collyer (Lancs)                      19                     03.10.80
Charlotte Edwards (Kent)                   40                     17.12.79
Mandie Godliman (Sussex)                    8                     05.04.73
Isa Guha (Berkshire)                        5                     21.05.85
Laura Harper (Somerset)                    16                     21.01.84
Dawn Holden (Notts)                        23                     01.09.80
Kathryn Leng (Yorkshire)                   47                     10.09.73
Hannah Lloyd (Somerset)                     3                     25.08.79
Laura Newton (Cheshire)                    26                     27.11.77
Lucy Pearson (Staffs)                      42                     19.02.72
Melissa Reynard (Yorks)                    48                     14.03.72
Nicki Shaw (Notts)                         18                     30.12.81
Laura Spragg (Yorks)                        5                     16.06.82
Claire Taylor (Berks)                      31                     25.09.75
Clare Taylor (Yorks)                       97                     22.05.65
Arran Thompson (Lancs)                     20                     23.11.81

* includes Test and ODI

England Captain Clare Connor said "We've made significant progress this summer but the winter will be a real challenge and one we're all looking forward too. There is no greater test than a one-day tournament involving World Champions New Zealand and Australia plus an Ashes Test Series".

The England women's squad will, again, benefit from lottery funding. The winter sport science and coaching programme has been supported through Sport England's World Class funding stream, in addition to their ongoing commitment of funding for individual elite players. Players will meet for intensive training sessions one weekend per month with England Head Coach, John Harmer, and follow individual performance programmes.

The England women's team look forward to a year of more international cricket than ever before, and, in addition to the Senior team touring the Southern hemisphere, the England U-19 Women's team will tour for the first time taking part in Australia's U19 women's state tournament in February followed by two matches against Australia's U19 team.

The itinerary for the England women this winter is as follows:

26th January - 9th February   Quadrangular ODI Tournament        
                              England, New Zealand, Australia, India

15th-18th February 1st Test:  England v Australia, Gabba
22nd-25th February 2nd Test:  England v Australia, Bankstown Oval, NSW

© ECB 2002