Team Bath’s Eboni Beckford-Chambers and Rachel Shaw in England squad for Australia series
Team Bath Netball’s Eboni Beckford-Chambers and Rachel Shaw have been named in the England Netball squad for the Vitality Netball International Series against Australia in January.
Superleague players Sam Cook, Shaunagh Craig, Alana John, Mia Ritchie and Jazz Scott have also been selected for England’s 2016 High Performance Programme, as have University of Bath students Sophie Carter and Paige Reed.
Defender Beckford-Chambers is one of only five England players who competed at this year’s World Cup to be named in the squad to face Australia, with others retiring or taking a break ahead of the domestic season.
In their absence, rising stars like Shaw – who plays at Goal Attack or Wing Attack – will be looking to impress Head Coach Tracey Neville in the three-match series against the World Champions.
Shaw has shown tremendous grit and determination to rebuild her career after twice rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament in the space of five months, then dislocating her ankle during the 2014 pre-season.
The 23-year-old played throughout the 2015 Superleague season and is now deservedly set to add to the 11 England caps she won while playing for Yorkshire Jets.
England will face Australia at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on January 20, then at the Copper Box Arena in London on January 22 and 24.
Denise Ellis, a Team Bath franchise board member and coaching mentor, has been appointed as an England National Academy Programme Selector.
England squad to face Australia: Sara Bayman (captain), Jade Clarke (vice-captain), Ama Agbeze, Eboni Beckford-Chambers, Sasha Corbin, Rachel Dunn, Jodie Gibson, Natalie Haythornthwaite, Helen Housby, Lindsay Keable, Laura Malcolm, Rachel Shaw.
Players selected for England Netball High-Performance Programme (inclusive of Under 21 long squad and affiliate members): Ama Agbeze, Rebekah Airey, Summer Artman, Imogen Allison, Mikaela Austin, Sara Bayman, Eboni Beckford-Chambers, Tamikah Campbell, Sophia Candappa, Rachel Dunn, Jade Clarke, Sophie Carter, Amy Carter, Amy Clinton, Sam Cook, Kadeen Corbin, Sasha Corbin, Shaunagh Craig, Iona Darroch, Rhea Dixon, George Fisher, Jodie Gibson, Brie Grierson, Lucy Harris, Natalie Haythornthwaite, Rebecca Hoult , Helen Housby, Alana John, Hannah Joseph, Lindsay Keable, Leah Kennedy, Olivia Leach, Laura Malcolm, Gabriella Marshall, Lauren Massey, Laura Morton, Vicki Oyesola, Paige Reed, Mia Ritchie, Jaydene Robinson, Jazz Scott, Jessica Shaw, Rachel Shaw, Ellie Smith, Lydia Walker, Francesca Williams.
