Bears Women duo receive England call-ups
Warwickshire seamer Em Arlott has seen her impressive start to the season with an England call-up.
The uncapped 27-year-old has been included in the squad for the upcoming limited overs series against the West Indies, the first under new head coach Charlotte Edwards and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt.
Her Bears Women team-mate and fellow seamer Issy Wong has also been recalled to play in the T20 series, with Arlott also selected for the one-day internationals.
The latter is the joint leading wicket taker in the Metro Bank One Day Cup and also scored the first List A century of her career in last month’s win over Essex, an achievement which helped her land the competition’s inaugural player of the month prize.
Arlott has been called up by England on three previous occasions but never made it onto the pitch. The most recent of those occasions, three years ago, she missed out after contracting Covid.
Wong, who has played 17 times for her country, returns to the squad after impressing on the recent England A tour to Australia.
Arlott’s call-up demonstrates Edwards’ willingness to reward performances in the newly revamped county game. The 45-year-old, England’s all-time leading run scorer, was appointed last month in the wake of the winter’s disastrous Ashes series, which led to the dismissal of her predecessor, Jon Lewis.
Edwards said: “We have selected squads on the back of strong performances and form in the opening rounds of the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
“That was the challenge to the players and I’ve been so impressed by what I’ve seen across the competition.
“It’s great to be able to reward that form, and to see one or two new faces in the squad, as well as the return of a few others. I’m sure they’ll be delighted and they can be proud of what they’ve done in order to be selected.”
The T20 series begins next Wednesday, May 21, in Canterbury.
