England move training camp from UAE to South Africa

The England women’s training camp originally planned to take place in the UAE has been moved to Pretoria in South Africa.

England were due to fly to the UAE on Wednesday but the trip was cancelled because of the ongoing situation in the Middle East after US-Israeli strikes on Iran prompted retaliatory strikes by Iran across the region.

The tour has been billed as key practice for England before this summer’s T20 World Cup. They have no competitive fixtures this winter and have not played since October.

Two full squads will travel to South Africa for a five-match T20 series, with players split between two teams.

‘Team Heyhoe Flint’ will be captained by England’s vice-captain Charlie Dean. The squad includes former captain Heather Knight and spinner Sophie Ecclestone. England assistant Luke Williams will act as coach.

‘Team Brittin’ will be captained by England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt with former Durham batter Jon Lewis coach.

England’s head coach Charlotte Edwards will work across both squads.

There are eight uncapped players across the two squads – spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman, batters Davina Perrin, Jodi Grewcock and Grace Scrivens, seamers Grace Potts and Alexa Stonehouse, and wicketkeepers Rhianna Southby and Ellie Threlkeld.

Leg-spinner Sarah Glenn is absent because of a broken finger.

When speaking to BBC Sport in January, Edwards challenged the younger generation of players to press for places in the full squad.

The tour will take place from 10 March to 27 March and follows trips to Oman and South Africa earlier this year.

England training squads in full:

Team Heyhoe Flint (coach: Luke Williams): Em Arlott (Warwickshire), Tammy Beaumont (The Blaze), Tilly Corteen-Coleman (Surrey), Charlie Dean (Somerset, captain), Sophie Ecclestone (Lancashire), Mahika Gaur (Lancashire), Dani Gibson (Somerset), Jodi Grewcock (Essex), Amy Jones (The Blaze), Heather Knight (Somerset), Emma Lamb (Lancashire), Grace Potts (Lancashire), Grace Scrivens (Essex), Alexa Stonehouse (Surrey/Warwickshire), Danni Wyatt-Hodge (Surrey)