Charlotte is picked for Europe

MURRAYFIELD DAFS' cricketer Charlotte Bascombe (left) is celebrating after she was picked to represent Europe in a series of matches against an ECB Women's Academy side next month, writes Gary Heatly.

Her selection, along with that of Stirling County's Kari Anderson, shows the strides being made this summer in Scottish women's cricket.

The national team have taken part in the LV Women's County Championship, while there is now a squad of U17s training and playing regularly and Lea Tsui has been brought in as Girl's and Women's Development Officer.

This is the first time that a women's European squad has been selected and Ian Shiels, vice-president at Murrayfield DAFS, is delighted that Bascombe has been called up.

"Charlotte has been great for our club in the last few years. She is the fourth team vice-captain, but has been mainly playing in the third XI lately and we are really pleased that she has achieved selection for this squad," he said.

"What she has done with the Scotland national team has been great, but to be given the honour of European selection is even better and something she is proud of.

"Charlotte and Lea Tsui (who also turns out for the club occasionally] have also been helping out coach our youngsters which has been a big help."

Twenty-two-year-old wicketkeeper/batsman Bascombe has attended all of ICC Europe's three European academies since 2006 and is vice-captain of Scotland – scoring 21* earlier this season as they defeated Hampshire in the LV Women's County Championship. She also has international hockey and lacrosse caps to her name.

Head of England Women's Cricket Clare Connor said: "The Women's Europe XI is a great vehicle for developing women's cricket in Europe and we are delighted to be able to support their growth by offering them competitive opposition in the form of our England Women's Academy side."

The European squad will be based at Worksop College and the ECB National Cricket Centre in Loughborough from 22-28 August and will play four matches, two Twenty20s and two 50-over clashes. The coaching team will be led by ICC Regional Performance Officer Philip Hudson.

Published first in the Edinburgh Evening News