Grassroots participation Boosted
Nov 15
 2013

Warwickshire’s Rebecca Grundy called into England Women’s Performance Squad
as Holly Colvin takes a break from cricket

[Holly Colvin © All rights reserved]Rebecca Grundy © All rights reserved

Holly Colvin (left) and Rebecca Grundy

Warwickshire’s 23-year-old left-arm spinner Rebecca Grundy has been called into the England Women’s Performance Squad following Holly Colvin’s decision to take a break from all cricket with immediate effect.
The 24-year-old Sussex left-arm spinner, a member of England’s World T20 and World Cup winning sides in 2009 and a two-time Ashes winner, has advised the England team management that she wishes to pursue a career outside cricket and will not be available for this winter’s touring programme. Her availability for international cricket thereafter will be reviewed with the England management in due course.
She said: “This is not a decision I have taken lightly as playing for England means so much to me and has been an integral part of my life since I was 15 years old. But after eight years in the sport I feel now is the right moment to take a break and seek to establish myself in a career outside cricket.
“The England team management fully understand my thinking and I have reassured them that I have no intention of retiring from the sport. There is still much that I want to achieve in international cricket and I very much hope that I can be part of a successful England team again in the future.”
ECB’s Head of Women’s Cricket Clare Connor said:
“This has not been an easy decision for Holly as she has played for England for all of her young adult life. She has been a key member of the team, playing her part in our World Cup and World T20 wins in 2009 as well as successful Ashes campaigns in 2009 and 2013. I am sure that many exciting opportunities will open up for Holly and we wish her every success as she takes some time away from the game to explore new avenues.
“Holly’s decision creates an opportunity to invite left-arm spinner Rebecca Grundy into the England Women’s Performance Squad from the England Women’s Academy. Rebecca has developed enormously over the last couple of years at Warwickshire and thoroughly deserves this opportunity.”
England Women will arrive in Australia early in the New Year to begin their defence of the Women’s Ashes which they won earlier this summer beating Australia by twelve points to four in a new multi-format competition comprising four day, one-day and T20 cricket.
This winter’s Women’s Ashes Test series will follow the same format with an Ashes Test Match in Perth followed by three One-Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals. The team will then contest the Women’s World T20 tournament in Bangladesh in March/April next year.

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