ODEDRA NAMED IN ENGLAND SQUAD & NOTTINGHAMSHIRE FIXTURES RELEASED

Nottinghamshire's Sonia Odedra has been named in the England Women's Academy squad ahead of their tour of Sri Lanka in February.

Odedra is one of 14 selected for the six-match series, with many eyeing places in the England Women's side currently defending the Ashes in Australia.

“The EWA tour to Sri Lanka presents an exciting opportunity for this group of players to gain some valuable experience of playing in sub-continent conditions, and represents a strategic part of our preparation for the 2014 ICC World T20 competition in Sylhet," said Clare Connor, Head of England Women's Cricket.

“As we saw at the ICC Women’s World Cup in India in 2013, the Sri Lankan Women’s side is improving all the time and they will provide challenging opposition in the six scheduled fixtures. 

"We have therefore selected a strong squad for this tour, mixing the likes of 2013 Women’s Ashes winner Tammy Beaumont, who will captain the side, with young up and coming talents such as Stephanie Butler from Staffordshire and Sussex’s Freya Davies.”

The Nottinghamshire Women's fixture list has also been released for the 2014 season, which will see Jenny Gunn lead the side once again. Fellow Ashes tourist Danielle Wyatt will also turn out for Notts, as well as Odedra, who had an excellent season last time out.

“A top 3 finish is not out of our reach in the LV County Championship Division 1 and we would be disappointed not to win our group and reach the National Finals of the T20 competition again.”

“We are in the strongest place we have been for about 10 years.

“We have good players coming through and a nucleus of about 20 we can pick from.  The current standard of women’s cricket in general across the country is at its strongest it has ever been - more girls are playing, the standard is continuing to rise and the success of the national side continues to inspire girls to play cricket.”

Nottinghamshire Women's home fixtures will be payed at the John Fretwell Sports Complex, the home of Welbeck Colliery CC.

2014 Fixtures: