Aussie pair imported for Super 4s

The England team know Blackwell well from the winter Ashes tour

Overseas players are to take part in the women's Super 4s competition for the first time this summer.

Alex Blackwell and Leah Poulton will play for the Rubies and Sapphires after being nominated by Cricket Australia.

"All our players are excited about what they will bring to the competition. Both have made centuries for Australia.

"We look forward to welcoming players from other countries to the Super 4s tournament in 2009," said Clare Connor, head of English women's cricket.

Blackwell has played six Tests and 47 one-day internationals and has a top score of 101, made against England at Melbourne in February.

Poulton was not chosen for the series against England earlier this year, but showed what she was capable of when she hit 101 against New Zealand in 2006.

Connor said the pair would add an "extra dimension" to the Super 4s, which is the main domestic women's competition in England.

"With some of our England players regularly playing in Australia during our winters, this is also an important initiative in terms of fostering strong relations with Cricket Australia," she added.

The Super 4s features four teams, all named after jewels, and will open with a Twenty20 Challenge event at Loughborough University's National Cricket Centre next Monday.

The league itself begins at the same venue the following weekend and the sides will continue to play through June before the competition reaches its climax at Wellington College in Berkshire on 5-6 July.

---

SUPER 4s SQUADS

Sapphires: Alexia Walker (capt), Rosalie Birch, Kathryn Brunt, Katie Cross, Kathryn Doherty, Lauren Griffiths, Jenny Halstead, Danielle Hazell, Rochelle Petty, Leah Poulton (Aus), Dawn Prestidge, Laura Spragg, Claire Taylor. Coach: Paul Shaw.

Diamonds: Charlotte Edwards (capt), Lynsey Askew, Karen Baker, Sarah Bartlett, Tamsin Beaumont, Georgia Elwiss, Lydia Greenway, Izzy Westbury, Charlotte Horton, Beth Morgan, Ebony Rainford-Brent, Charlie Russell, Anna Stevenson. Coach: John Stock.

Emeralds: Nicky Shaw (capt), Salliann Briggs, Kelly Evenson, Daisy Gardner, Jenny Gunn, Laura Joyce, Hannah Lloyd, Laura Marsh, Nicky Myers, Sarah Taylor, Jasmine Titmus, Jo Watts, Beth Wild, Danielle Wyatt. Coach: Vince Wells.

Rubies: Gill Richards (capt), Caroline Atkins, Alex Blackwell (Aus), Hannah Burr, Holly Colvin, Steph Davies, Isa Guha, Natalie Lane, Sophie Le Marchand, Kate Oakenfold, Anya Shrubsole, Amanda Potgieter, Becky Williams. Coach: Andrew Hobday.