The news just gets better and better!
Calmore Sports’ Eve O’Neill has been named in the England squad to play in the ICC Women’s U19 World Cup, to be hosted in Malaysia in January-February 2025.
She is one of the 15-player strong squad list, announced today (3rd October) alongside three Southern Vipers teammates in Abi Norgrove while Poppy Tulloch and Daisy Gibb are reserves.
The 16-team tournament in its second edition – the first being won by India who beat Grace Scrivens’ England side in the Final in South Africa last year – will see England play Ireland, Pakistan and USA in their group stages starting on 18 January 2025 in Johar and culminating in the Final in Pandamaran on 2 February.
16-year-old Eve will take her place in the squad and Southern Vipers Assistant Head Coach James Hibberd, who has worked with Eve since she was 7 years old, was thrilled.
“This is an incredible achievement for Eve, considering she qualifies for the next World Cup in two years time too! She is over the moon, as we all are for her.
“There is still lots of work for her to do and I know she will love putting in the hard work with a smile on her face which she always has.
“To have 4 Southern Vipers players in the squad is huge for us and shows the future is very bright.
“England look very strong with Tilly Corteen-Coleman who is already a star of the future, having played a major part with Southern Brave in the Hundred this year.”
Four of the Under 19 runners-up side made their senior international debuts for England in their recent series against Ireland (Ryana Macdonald-Gay, Hannah Baker, Seren Smale and Charis Pavely) so this is a fantastic developing ground and Chris Guest, England Women U19 Performance Lead, also added: “What excites me most about working with the under-19 age group is the constant cycle of new talent and new groups coming through.
“We’ve named a squad which features some players who have been involved at this age group before and some who haven’t.
“This World Cup is a part of these players’ journey, not the end or the start and our message to them is to embrace the challenge, evolve ourselves and enjoy the ride. Naturally we want to do well but the programme is about developing these players in the future and for the long-term.”
The tournament will be shown live on Sky Sports next year – Calmore Sports Club will be watching with great interest.
Many congratulations Eve – this is beyond exciting news!
England Women U19 squad for ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup:
Phoebe Brett (Central Sparks)
Olivia Brinsden (Thunder)
Tilly Corteen-Coleman (South East Stars)
Trudy Johnson (Northern Diamonds)
Katie Jones (Western Storm)
Charlotte Lambert (South East Stars)
Abi Norgrove (Southern Vipers)
EVE O’NEILL (Southern Vipers)
Davina Perrin (Central Sparks)
Jemima Spence (South East Stars)
Charlotte Stubbs (South East Stars)
Amuruthaa Surenkumar (Sunrisers)
Prisha Thanawala (The Blaze)
Erin Thomas (Northern Diamonds)
Grace Thompson (Northern Diamonds)
