England women's squad

The 14 for five one-day internationals against South Africa:

Clare Connor, captain

Melissa Reynard, vice-captain

Jane Cassar

Barbara Daniels

Charlotte Edwards

Laura Harper

Dawn Holden

Kathryn Leng

Laura Newton

Lucy Pearson

Nicky Shaw

Claire Taylor

Clare Taylor

Arran Thompson

Clare Connor, captain

Born: 1.9.76
Right-hand bat, left arm spinner
Brighton and Hove WCC and captain of Sussex

Appointed captain during the winter tour to Australia and New Zealand. Opened the batting for England's under-21 side for four years. Made her senior Test and ODI debut against India in 1995. Took a hat-trick against India last summer. Teaches English and PE at her old school, Brighton College, whose team reached the finals of the Indoor Sixes this year.

Melissa Reynard

Born: 14.3.72
Right-hand bat, left arm inswing bowler
North Riding and Yorkshire

Made her Test debut against India in 1995. Captain of North Riding who beat Thrumpton in the National Knock Out Cup Final last year, but lost out to Invicta in the Premier League final. Learned to play with Knaresborough CC and was the only girl in the junior teams. Also plays tennis and hockey. Works for Yorkshire Water as a technical assistant.

Jane Cassar

Born: 23.12.72
Right-hand bat, wicket-keeper
Thrumpton and Nottinghamshire

The team's wicket-keeper, she was a member of 1993 World Cup-winning team. Claimed her 50th dismissal, and a new world record, in the opening match against Australia this winter. Former Nottinghamshire Hockey player, still plays for Crimson Ramblers. Lives and works in Derbyshire. Married to Derbyshire player Matt Cassar.

Barbara Daniels

Born: 17.12.64
Right-hand bat
Invicta and Staffordshire

Made her senior international debut in the 1993 World Cup and was vice-captain from 1995-8. Captained the under-19 side for two years. Shares the sixth wicket record stand of 132 with Kathryn Leng, playing against New Zealand in 1996, and scored 160 in the same match. Taught English before joining the Women's Cricket Association and overseeing the merger with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Took time out from international cricket to become the ECB's first National Manager of Women's Cricket, but returned for the winter tour.

Charlotte Edwards

Born: 17.12.79
Left-hand bat
Invicta and Kent

First selected for England, aged 16, against New Zealand in 1996 and has remained in the senior side ever since. Made her highest score of 173 not out against Ireland in the 1997 World Cup on the day before her 18th birthday. Captained the England under-21s against South Africa in 1998. Scored her maiden Test Century (108) against India last summer. Works for Hunts County Bats.

Laura Harper

Born: 21.1.84
Top order bat and off spin bowler
Somerset Wanderers and Somerset

Will be youngest England player to date, if she plays against South Africa. Member of the successful England A team at last year's European Cup. Started playing at the age of eight and took up spin bowling two years later. Played for Cornwall boys at under-11 level and progressed on to other age groups. Selected for England boys U-15 trial, but chose to play for Somerset in the Women's County Championships. Just finished GCSEs.

Dawn Holden

Born: 9.9.80
Lower order bat, off spin bowler
Invicta and Nottinghamshire

Played for England under-17s, under-21s and the successful England A side in the European Cup last summer. Started playing with Urchester boys under-12s, then under-15s. Started indoor cricket with Nottingham before joining her present team and playing alongside Jane Cassar. Finished her GNVQ in Leisure and Tourism and A-level Sports Studies last summer.

Kathryn Leng

Born: 28.9.73
Left-hand bat, leg spin bowler
Wakefield and Yorkshire

Captained England under-19s for two years before making senior debut in 1992. Scored her maiden Test century (144) against New Zealand in 1996 and shared in two world record stands with Barbara Daniels and Melissa Reynard. Skippered several boys' teams. After leaving school joined Customer Services at the Yorkshire Bank.

Laura Newton

Born: 27.11.77
Right hand bat, right arm medium pace bowler
Wolverhampton and Cheshire

Made her senior debut against South Africa in 1997 followed by the World Cup. Returned to the squad last summer only five months after her son was born. First played for under-19s aged 15 and also played for under-21s for two years. Captained Crewe Rolls Royce boys' under-18 team. Now coaches England's junior squad and Cheshire Schools.

Lucy Pearson

Born: 19.2.72
Left arm medium pace bowler
Wolverhampton and Staffordshire

Made her England debut in 1996 in the 3rd Test against New Zealand, but a back injury kept her out the following year. Returned to the squad against Australia in 1998 and twice took their captain's wicket. Read English at Oxford and played hockey as well as cricket. Teaches English and PE in Wolverhampton.

Nicki Shaw
Born: 30.12.81
Fast bowler
Thrumpton and Nottinghamshire

First joined the senior squad for the winter tour. Earlier last year played in the England A side that won the European Cup. Started playing Kwik cricket aged seven with father and brothers' club, Earl Shilton. Continued to play with them until joining Thrumpton. Now in second year of Leisure and Tourism studies and hopes to go on to Sports Science degree.

Claire Taylor

Born: 25.9. 75
Right-hand bat, wicket-keeper
Redoubtables and Berkshire

Toured South Africa with England under-21s in 1998 and averaged over 50. Joined the senior squad against Australia the same year. Read Maths at Oxford, played cricket and captained the hockey team there. Also represented England in under-17 and under-19 hockey squads. Works as a systems analyst.

Clare Taylor

Born: 22.5.65 Medium pace bowler
Wakefield and Yorkshire

A double international who has represented England at both cricket and soccer. A member of the winning World Cup Cricket squad in 1993 and again in 1997. Played in the Soccer World Cup in 1995. Made a Sport England Sporting Ambassador in 1999 to promote healthy lifesyles among young people in her area. Read Geography and was awarded an honorary MA by Hull University for her Services to Sport. Works for Royal Mail.

Arran Thompson

Born: 23.11.81
Right arm medium pace bowler
North Riding and Lancashire

Scored 111 for Lancashire in last year's county championships. Member of the England A European Cup winning side last year. Was with Lancs and England under-17 and under-21 teams. Played boys' cricket for Thornton-in-Craven since under-12s. Has also played football and tennis. Interested in sports' equipment design. Just finished A-levels and hoping to go to University.

The South African squad:

Kim Price (capt), Cindy Eksteen (vice-capt), Alison Hodgkinson, Kerri-Ann Laing, Linda Olivier, Rozelle Scheepers, Sunnette Viljoen, Levona Lewis, Nolubabalo Ndzundzu, Helen Davies, Yulandi van de Merwe, Dalene Terblanche, Anina Burger, Aluis Kuylaars, Denise Reid.

Fixtures:

20 June at Chelmsford
England won by 20 runs

22 June at Trent Bridge
England won by 9 wickets

25 June at Canterbury
South Africa won by 1 wicket

28 June at Taunton
England won by 8 wickets

1 July at Worcester
South Africa won by six runs (average run rate)